Looking at my younger brother and what he says about his future daily, I remember when I was also younger I had such dreams too.
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The young boys would always tell their mum how beautiful their cars would be, how gigantic their houses would be.
They always said they will be the ‘Spiderman’ of their time and the ‘David’ that would kill the ‘Goliath’ so they will save the world.
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Every one of us wanted to become a Doctor, Lawyers,pilot. Our dreams were specific. we always wanted to help people around when we grow up.
They always had such big dreams.
They sang Christian rhymes and songs with the assurance that God was there.
They wanted to drive themselves to school and always said ‘I CAN DRIVE’. They wanted to be in charge.
At that sweet young age, they never bothered about money or girls because they were just so sure of that comfortable life ahead.
Hardly was there any boy who did not have a role model.
They couldn’t wait to grow and just live THE BIG MAN LIFE.
I can also remember when I was young, very young. Small and naïve little girl. Jesus’ little baby.
Imagining the big house, car and husband she would have.
Playful and naughty though, I put on mummy’s make-up, wear her shoes and look like a ‘classy woman’.
Checking my aunt’s phone for her secret text messages.
Thought love would just fly on you.
Never believed love films and love stories.
Thought my aunty was stupid and gullible to have had any guy hurt her feelings.
HMMMMM………….. Sweet memories of acting mummy and daddy with that boy in my class.
Flaring up when mummy calls him my husband.
Thought everyone liked me as me.
I loved the big sisters I had and liked the way they dressed.
Soon the naughty gown started to bore me as I wore it to Church every Sunday.
I wanted shoes with high heels and do ‘those’ hairstyles.
As interesting and funny as our childhood was, we all had this one problem which was WE WANTED TO GROW FAST OUT OF CHILDHOOD.
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Although I seriously miss those days of ‘suwe’, ‘ten-ten’ (Nigerians local games for kids)etc. I have grown to understand better.
And now we are grown, we want to go back young.
This is a pointer to the fact that the stage you are is just a phase and you would soon outgrow it. The real questions to be answered are:
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” 1 Corinthians 13v11.
When Paul wrote that epistle to the Corinthians, he did not mean you should put away your childhood dreams, hopes, joy, smiles etc. The good news is you can bring to life your childhood dreams.
I respect you too much to pretend to understand how you feel or know what you have gone through because only you understands that. There was a time that all we knew was play, sleep, eat and go to school. But now we are so occupied with things that we never knew how they came into existence. We just found ourselves living in the reality of a complex life.
Friend, enough of being a chameleon on the stage of life. No lottery, fairy god-mother or lotto can change your story. ‘Luck does not exist in the Bible’. Only God can change your story. Life has cheated you enough. Life is greater than your intentions but God is greater than Life.
All your successes and failures have shaped you into what you are. I admit that you have made mistakes but why not let it go,
‘Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 3v13b -14
It is time to let go of the past and see a new future in Christ. If you give your life to Him, He will mend it and make it new.
I know you are scared to take up the task and perform on stage but the Word says:
‘Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4v16.
Obtain grace to match forward from Him. Don’t hide under people’s achievements. You must do your part and prepare with all your might. Prepare to take your place onstage. Write down all your childhood dreams and present them to God. He can and will help you.
‘But Ella, my case is worse’. Someone must have said that. I am saying NO! God is specialized in starting abandoned projects anew. Remember the woman with the issue of blood for 12years, the man at the pool for 32years etc. God still did it. The only worst thing that can happen is death and the good news is God still raises the dead. No matter how the devil has manipulated you and stolen away your innocence, it is time to tell God to take over. You must realize that your present trouble is not going to last. It has an expiry date. It is just a phase.
Look at the story of a woman who gazed into the looking glass and saw God’s purpose for her. She had planned her life from childhood to marry a young carpenter and have a cool, glorious home. In the mirror, it wasn’t what she expected to see she saw. It was not a role she thought she could play. She was a young woman, just a little more than a girl, informed with the news that she had been chosen to perform a leading role unlike any other in the annals of time and history. Her only audition was the simple faith and pure heart that defined her character. The young woman was Mary.
Your plan may be different from God’s. All He wants is the best for you. Tender all your childhood dreams before Him. He would sort them out. Jeremiah 33v3.
My final word is for the ‘classy’, ‘ever perfect’ men and ladies who say they have got it all under control. Are you sure you are not hiding under your achievements? Your heart is fragile, it is not so smart, take it or leave it. Do not hide under the umbrella of perfection because earthly perfection is an illusion, manufactured by our impossible expectations and limited grasp of reality. Total dependence on God is what you need. He is the best manager of your heart and situations.
I hope to hear testimonies of the returned joy and smile in your life in Jesus name.
Remember, when life gives you LIMES, rearrange it and give it a SMILE. Do not let the devil win this battle. Look in the mirror and see the man/woman God wants you to be. The entire world is your stage, step up and allow yourself to shine. With you it is impossible but with God, it is simple.
I will make sure I read this to that little brother of mine when He is of age to understand so he would enjoy his childhood and appreciate God with his smiles no matter what happens. You can do the same too. God bless you.
