ATTITUDES I ADMIRE IN GREAT MEN

Few days ago my friend, Ejiro Ometan forwarded an email to me. I was inspired by it and decided to take a life-long search to study the life and times of great men. My search isn’t about their successes as I have read many pieces about that part of them. I wanted to know their path to success; if in their journey they experienced setbacks such as I am experiencing. Yes, I wanted to know what attitude they wore in the face of challenges. My search is gonna continue for a lifetime because in the making of great men, there shall be no end. Today, I wanna share a few quote from the few men I have studied in the past few days. I hope it inspires you.

I am what I am, both as a result of people who respected me and helped me, and those who did not respect me and treated me badly – Nelson Mandela

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s daughter was away from home attending school. In corresponding with her famous father, she made it clear to him that she was brooding over a past mistake that had left her with a troubled conscience. Emerson wrote his daughter and said, “Finish everyday and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, but get rid of them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you should never encumber its potentialities and invitations with the dread of the past. You should not waste a moment of today on the rottenness of yesterday.

Don’t expect to be a megastar overnight. I’ve always said that it takes 10 years to become an actor. Far too many actors are far too young to handle major roles – Christopher Lee-Veteran. (actor with over 244 acknowledged film and TV roles out of atleast 358 screen credits)

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost 3000 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot…and missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that’s why I succeed. – Michael Jordan (arguably the greatest basketball player ever)

You can have it all. You just can’t have it all at once – Oprah Winfrey. The highest paid TV personality.

Eli Whitney was laughed at when he showed his cotton gin. Thomas Edison had to install his electric light for free of charge in an office building before anyone would even look at it. The first sewing machine was smashed by Boston mob. People scoffed at the idea of railroads. People thought that traveling thirty miles an hour (in an automobile) would stop circulation of blood. Samuel Morse had to plead before ten congresses before they would even look at his telegraph - Anonymous

Formula for handling people:

1. Listen to the other person’s story

2. Listen to the other person’s full story

3. Listen to the other person’s story first - George Marshal

One thousand friends are not enough, one bad friend is too much – Late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa. (Father of Nigeria Pentecostal Movement)

My Take: The hands of men, no matter how evil, strong or powerful do not have the authority to halt our destiny. In fact, their evil intentions put us in the path of destiny. Remember Joseph? – Colyns Agboju

Love y'all.

MY MOM OF INESTIMABLE VALUE + I HATED MY MOM...

Today's post is dedicated to my mom of inestimable value – Mrs. Roseline Agboju. No doubt, she’s the best mom on earth. I learned hard work, commitment, faithfulness and godliness under her watchful, tough yet caring eyes. God bless my mom and every loving mom on earth. I hope that when I get married my wife will raise my children in the most godly and lovely home.

The story I am using later on this post is on how mothers are treated by children of the 21st century. I have seen many things happen to mothers. While growing up, I saw a son beat up his mom during an argument. I have seen mothers labeled witches by sons. I have seen a mom abandoned to poverty by wealthy children who she struggled through rain to train. Gosh! I have seen moms disrespected because they were uneducated.

My mom is a disciplinarian and I disliked her while I was growing up but now I am glad God didn’t give another mom. We’ve had arguments in the past when she vehemently disagreed with my way of doing things but I would be damned if I forgot the days in the rain and sun when she had to go to work to provide for me. I cannot forget the days she went hungry because of me. Naah! I cannot just count what innumerable pleasure she had sacrificed for me to go to school and how uncomfortable I made her for 9 months when she had me in her womb. You may not have a mom as mine but you sure have a mom who gave you life. She deserves respect and love.

I beg to borrow the leant in primary school. Most of us seem to forget it. Just wanna remind us.

My Mother
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush’d me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.

When sleep forsook my open eye,
Who was it sung sweet hushaby,
And rock’d me that I should not cry?
My Mother.

Who sat and watched my infant head,
When sleeping in my cradle bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed?
My Mother.

When pain and sickness made me cry,
Who gazed upon my heavy eye,
And wept for fear that I should die?
My Mother.

Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,
And taught me pretty how to play.
And minded all I had to say?
My Mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,
And love God’s holy book and day.
And walk in Wisdom’s pleasant way?
My Mother.

And can I ever cease to be
Affectionate and kind to thee,
Who was so very kind to me?
My Mother

Ah, no! the thought I cannot bear;
And if God please my life to spare,
I hope I shall reward thy care,
My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.

When thou art feeble, old, and gray,
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And I will soothe thy pains away.
My Mother.

And when I see thee hang thy head,
‘Twill be my turn to watch thy bed.
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My Mother.

For God, who lives above the skies,
Would look with vengeance in His eyes,
If I should ever dare despise
My Mother.

For could our Father in the skies
Look down with pleased or loving eyes,
If ever I could dare despise
My Mother.

HE HATED HIS MOM...
My mom only had one eye. I hated her... she was such an embarrassment.
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family. There was this scenario one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.

The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your mom only has one eye!" I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, " If you're only going to make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?"

My mom did not respond. I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings. I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my mother came to visit me.

She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!" GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!"

And to this, my mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

"My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,
Your mother.

This guy lived with guilt all through his life. our responses to our parents may not be this chronic yet we are as guilty as he is. This line from the poem above is adequate to be repeated.
For God, who lives above the skies,
Would look with vengeance in His eyes,
If I should ever dare despise nuff respect.
My Mother.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Purest Love.

3 INSPIRATIONAL JOKES - PAUSE TODAY AND READ

GOD DOESNT EXIST

A college student was in a philosophy class, where there was a class discussion about whether or not God exists, The professor had the following logic: "Has anyone in this class heard God?" Nobody spoke. "Has anyone in this class touched God?" Again, nobody spoke. "Has anyone in this class seen God?" When nobody spoke for the third time, he simply stated, "Then there is no God." The student did not like the sound of this at all, and asked for permission to speak. The professor granted it, and the student stood up and asked the following questions of his classmates:

"Has anyone in this class heard our professor's brain?" Silence.

"Has anyone in this class touched our professor's brain?" Absolute silence.

"Has anyone in this class seen our professor's brain?" When nobody in the class dared to

speak, the student concluded, "Then, according to our professor's logic, it must be true

that our professor has no brain!"

The student received an "A" in the class.

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

A man in the Old West was being tried for stealing a horse. You need to remember that stealing a horse in the Old West was a very grave and serious offense. A person could be hanged if found guilty of such a deed. It so happened that the man whose horse had been stolen had always made it a point to get the best of any person with whom he had any dealings. He had never tried to do anything good for anyone other than himself. Consequently, the man whose horse had been stolen didn't have a single friend in the entire town. The case was tried and presented to the jury.

The evidence against the accused man was pretty strong. After about thirty minutes of deliberation, the jury returned to the court chambers. "Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" The judge asked. The chairman of the jury stood up. "Yes we have, your honor," he replied. "What is your verdict?" inquired the judge. There were a few moments of silence and then the chairman spoke. "We find the defendant not guilty if he will return the horse."

After the judge had silenced the laughter in the courtroom, he admonished the jury. "I cannot accept that verdict. You will have to retire until you reach another verdict," said the judge. The jury went back into their room to deliberate toward another verdict. No member of the jury had any particular liking for the man whose horse had been stolen. At one time or another he had gotten the best of each of them. About an hour passed before the jury could reach another verdict. They re-entered the courtroom. They took their place in the jury box and the courtroom grew silent.

"Gentlemen of the jury," began the judge, "have you reached a verdict?" The chairman of the jury stood up. "Yes we have, your honor," he replied. "What is your verdict?" asked the judge. The courtroom was totally silent. You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone eagerly awaited the verdict. The chairman read the decision reached by the twelve good men, tried and true. "We find the defendant not guilty, and he can keep the horse!" The courtroom burst into laughter!

Moral of the story:

If you spend your life trying to take advantage of others, never caring about them in any way except what you can get from them or what they can do for you, you will end up a loser, like the man who lost his horse. If you desire a friend, then be a friend. If you desire for other people to help you, then help other people. If you desire justice at the hands of others, then practice justice toward them. Regardless of what you may think, the old Biblical admonition is true. We do reap what we sow.

MOST COMMUNICATIVE VIRUS

A story was told about an optimistic farmer who couldn't wait to greet each new day with a resounding, "Good morning, God!" He lived near a woman whose morning greeting was more like, "Good God... morning?" They were each a trial to the other. Where he saw opportunity, she saw problems. Where he was satisfied, she was discontented.

One bright morning he exclaimed, "Look at the beautiful sky! Did you see that glorious sunrise?" "Yeah," she countered. "It'll probably get so hot the crops will scorch!" During an afternoon shower, he commented, "Isn't this wonderful? Mother Nature is giving the corn a drink today!" "And if it doesn't stop before too long," came the sour reply, "we'll wish we'd taken out flood insurance on the crops!"

Convinced that he could instill some awe and wonder in her hardened attitude, he bought a remarkable dog. Not just any mutt, but the most expensive, highly-trained and gifted dog he could find. The animal was exquisite! It could perform remarkable and impossible feats which, the farmer thought, would surely amaze even his neighbor. So he invited her to watch his dog perform.

"Fetch!" he commanded, as he tossed a stick out into a lake, where it bobbed up and down in the rippling water. The dog bounded after the stick, walked ON the water, and retrieved it.

"What do you think of that?" he asked, smiling.

"Hmmm," she frowned. "Can't swim, can he?"

Sometimes I think that negative thoughts are the world's most communicative diseases. More catching than any known virus, and just as deadly. But an attitude of awe and wonder can be just as contagious!

Which will you be spreading today?

God bless your heart.

Colyns