Haters

A good old friend of mine (Tolu) sent me a “forward” today. I had been contemplating on what to share before she sent it in. After reading it, it was clear to me that this discovery could be shared on Footsteps as well. I actually checked up the author (Maya Angelou) through google and realized a few other blogs had posted it before now.

I’ll be going ahead, however, to post it because I appreciate it and was also so moved by the final quote. It would be good to know those haters in our lives and handle them right, and also ask ourselves if we have been subtle ones in the lives of others and work towards a change.

Haters

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is evergood enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing you blessed...

It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they have...The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don't know my story...

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can be rest assured that the water bill is higher there too! We've all got some haters among us!

Some people envy you because you can:

a) Have a relationship with God

b) Light up a room when you walk in

c) Start your own business

d) Tell a man/woman to hit the curb

(if he/she isn't about the right thing)

e) Raise your children without both parents being in the home.

Haters can't stand to see you happy. Haters will never want to see you succeed.

Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side.

How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are *(VERY IMPORTANT!!)

2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.

3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation.

Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live...when its your time to leave this earth, you want to be able to say, 'I've lived my life and fulfilled my dreams, Now I'm ready to go HOME!

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, 'Don't look at me...Look at who is in charge of me...

'Pass this to all of your family & friends who you know are not hating on you including the person who sent it to you. If you don't get it back, maybe you called somebody out! Don't worry about it, it's not your problem, it's theirs. Just pray for them, that their life can be as fulfilled as yours! Watch out for Haters...

BUT most of all don't become a HATER!

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

Maya Angelou

The Gift and The Giver

It’s another Valentine Season and I can bet everyone, or well maybe most people, will be cracking their heads now for options on what to give, something different from the previous years. There have been many views I’ve come across over time on this season, the most common being that we don’t have to wait till Valentine to show love or appreciate that loved one. True in some ways, but another angle to it is there just seems to be some different air of love/passion/appreciation around this time that no one wants to be left out.

I learnt also a while back that for an ideal or close to ideal gift pack, 3 major groups should be represented – Edibles, Useables and Keepables. Though this could just serve as a guideline of some sort. Edibles would be those things that can be eaten or drunk e.g. Chocolates, Wines etc. Useables would include Perfumes, Watches and Hygiene packs etc and Keepeables would be those things that can be preserved for a long time, maybe on display for others to appreciate e.g. Teddies, Jewelry, Electronics etc. so as you think through what to get for that loved one this year, you could consider these groups.

However, I learnt something new today as I pondered these gift options. Some few years back, our apartment was burgled, amongst the items taken was a laptop given to us as a wedding gift from our Dad. Truth is, that gift is gone but the giver is still there. In other words the giver of that gift needs to be dearer to us than the gift; he/she is the one that the appreciation must remain for.

Yes a few times that giver just doesn’t get that gift we seem to want at that time or would prefer, but the gift may finish like the Edibles or Useables or even get damaged or lost or stolen or wear out like the keepables, which leaves us with the Giver or memories of the Giver. This Valentine lets try to look beyond the gift to the giver, to that one who loves us so to remember us at this time and appreciate us enough to get a gift or send a message of love or appreciation.

Happy Valentine

Plot Your Route

During one of our last vacations in the UK, we had to get to an uncle’s place by taking a cab. We had never been to this place before but were not so much concerned about missing our way because our hosts had made us understand that most if not all cabs had the Navigator (Satellite/GPRS). They also had one in their car as well.

To use the navigator one just had to specify the destination point and the starting point and it automatically plotted the route. In addition it would guide the user on where to turn to the left or the right, how long the distance would be before making another turn or coming to a stop.

In understanding how it works, one just needs to note that some major landmarks and geographic points had been identified in reality, for which the Navigator identifies & links via a satellite while mapping routes. And it is based on these that it plots the desirable routes.

So I ask, do you have a Navigator in place as we start this new year. Have you identified your destination in different areas of your life, have you identified major landmarks? For those who have and are even used to that annual habit I have a learning to share. For those who haven’t yet, I challenge you – take time out, reflect on where you are, where you want to be and write down those goals or dreams you desire to accomplish in this year.

Yes, write them down. It is not enough to know it in your heart, you need to write it down, so you can have a guide in place and also a list to tick off. Writing down helps you know when that opportunity comes knocking since you’ve identified what it is you want. You may want to look at different sub-headings – Spiritual, Marriage/Relationship, Family and Children, Academic/Career/Business and others.

My recent learning on goal setting which I hope to make a habit this year, however, is regular review. You just have to continue to see that thing, to desire it, to have it. That’s an advertising secret. It may not be enough to write it down and check it out at the end of the year, you need to go back to it, look at it regularly, add to it or take from it as the case may be and consciously put in place the necessary to accomplish it.

I have my Navigator already working, do you?

The Opportunity in “Another”

A happy new year to everyone. This is my first article in 2009, and I’m believing I’ll learn more and get to share more on Footsteps.

2008 was a good year in many ways for me and my family. For instance, we had an addition in my family – a lovely son, it was also the year Footsteps was launched. I believe you all have something good to remember the year for, even if it was for something seemingly small.

I had earlier thought I would focus on an early plan for the year, but as I sat to prepare this, I remembered another learning which I think would be just timely to share.

Sometimes last year, during one of our close of day prayers, I observed a request I always made – “… to live tomorrow better than we did today”. It was with a sincere appreciation for seeing the end of the day and feeling privileged enough to witness yet ANOTHER day coming, and then to live it better.

Then it dawned on me that many of us have had the privilege of witnessing ANOTHER in our lives, another day, another month, another paycheck or payment for goods sold or service rendered, another relationship, another meal and for us all now – Another Year. The opportunity that exist in Another of these things and more is to go about it in a better way, so that at the end of its time or period, when we stand back and evaluate we can say for sure, that it was better.

It’s a new year and if for anything, let us start with a deep appreciation of witnessing another year and make efforts to maximize this opportunity to have a greater and more fulfilling year than the previous. In order to do this well, my challenge is for you to identify the shortcomings of the previous year and make a conscious effort to overcome it in this year, and also identify the victories gained and be consistent in maintaining it.

Feliz Navidad

Truth is I did try to get around posting this before today but it’s all good being able to do it today all the same. It’s about my 7th month of blogging too and I must confess I’ve been blessed indeed to share all I have so far.

A Merry Christmas to you all. It’s a season of celebration and joy again, with family, friends and loved ones. Everyone trying to outdo each other with gifts, first calls and texts, but whose birthday is it anyways?

I’m a Christian and have been all my life, so the story behind this season is not only one I know but also believe in. It’s the foundation of the Christian faith and anchor. It’s basically a simple one, but takes faith to accept as truth.

Many years ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, a virgin gave birth to a baby boy in a manger. A child that had been prophesied to come in a special manner to live a model life, teach life changing truths and lay down his life that man may be reconciled back to the maker, God Himself. And that child was God Himself in the flesh. Only Him could offer the atonement required for the reconciliation.

Some are yet to believe this truth, since they cannot grasp the sense in it. How could such happen? Why would such happen? I pray that even as I may not be opportune to share that now, that as they also celebrate this birthday God would cause light to shine in their hearts to understand and then believe.

For those who have believed, let this year’s Christmas be another opportunity to be grateful that He came and we are His.

A wonderful Christmas again to everyone, from me and my family.

The Maze Of Life 3

On this 3rd and let me say last part to the maze of life I would just share briefly on the other aspect to the maze. I had initially focused on the fact that each person's path in ilfe differs, which eventually forms a maze. For some it’ll be almost simple and straight, for other the turns would be just a few and for some quite a number. In as much as the decision on where to turn at those junctions lies with us. I’ve also emphasized the need to appreciate yours and learn from others.

The other aspect I intend to share is the realization that in the maze of life, some paths would cross and remain together till the end, while some will start together, break off at some point and still meet together, others starting together which disperse may never cross again.

I had also earlier mentioned the traditional proverb on 20 friends not staying together for 20 years. However, my area of concern is this- for those years you are together, for those times your paths crossed what can those people say about you? How much of good influence did you have on their lives? While I will not encourage breaking off from a friend just because of issues that mught have occurred without proper reconciliation, I understand that knowing people over time will help you identify if they are to remain your best buddies, which would mean some form of breaking off or separation for some that would be for good.

I challenge you again, some of those people in your life now could have their paths meeting with yours for just a while, so make an effort to take it as an opportunity to influence them positively, in other words be a blessing to them. Who knows if that may help them in their next phase in life.

The Maze Of Life 2

I came across this poem in the last week and felt quite glad I was not far in my discovery on the maze of life.


MY SHOES

Thank God for my shoes – they fit.

I woke up one day and I realized that there were many things
about my life I was not satisfied with or better still, there
were challenges that were threatening my soul.

And I said to myself, ‘why should anyone envy me and want
to be in my shoes. ‘They don’t know how far I’ve come, they
don’t know what lies ahead of me, and neither do they know
how dissatisfied I get with myself from time to time.

People don’t know the troubles that you’ve had or the price
you had to pay to get to where you are. All they want to know
is that they wish they were like you.

Why should you wish you were in anybody’s shoes when you
hardly know how they fit?

When you’ve worn your shoes for a while they take the shape
Of your feet and align to the way you walk. If you were to
wear my shoes, you will not be comfortable in them.

So I stopped wishing that I am in someone shoes because
it might not fit; rather I thank God for my shoes, because
they fit!

I have learnt to be the best in what I do, and I know no-one
Can replace me anywhere and in any sphere

I am an original, my God is not in the cloning business.
He makes originals!

Make the best of what you do; because you have this
beautiful life to live ONLY ONCE.


Live it to the fullest.


In essence we have different lives to live, different shoes to wear, different paths to take and knowing that helps us appreciate our individual uniqueness.

Who have you been negatively comparing yourself to? it’s time to tow the positive angle to comparison, for out of it comes a deeper appreciation of the other person, a challenge tomove beyond your comfort zone (to learn and do new things) and the realization that you too can live life to the fullest.