Her Sides

One song I really like is ‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers: ‘You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em Know when to fold ‘em Know when to walk away Know when to run…’ I’m not sure if I like the song because of the lyrics or the tune. But what I love about the song is its notion of knowing when to act and when not to, like a good cardplayer does. That’s one of the greatest secrets of success in life: timing . I’m sure you’ve heard the saying ‘Timing is everything’ , and I’m sure, just like me, you’ve had your share of good and bad timing. How grand would life be if we all just knew and understood the right time for everything in life? You would know when to push and when to hold. Think about all the wasted energy you have invested in something that didn’t work because it wasn’t the right time for it. We could all do with a good sense of timing, couldn’t we? We have to go through life making decisions based on our best guesses according to t...

Ever had a moment when you suddenly had a burst of insight? It feels like a million flashes of images running through your mind. You tend to gasp in realization, jostled by the facts you had forgotten until that moment when it felt like someone literally turned the lights on.   I listened to a story recently and that was when I had my light bulb moment. Two people—Bob and Richard—veered head to head trying to get a position. Each tried to work, talk, and manipulate their way into this role. They were both qualified, smart, and hardworking, so it was an interesting race to observe. Given their equal strengths, I couldn’t tell who would get the job. One evening, they were asked to support a charity. They went to a mobile kitchen to help with food distribution, and then something went wrong. There was a fight between two of the people who were being served. At the time, Richard was in the kitchen helping with the meal preparation while Bob wa...

The flower – it grows; first sprouting out of the hard soil, then growing into a slender stem. In time it develops into shoots and roots and then into branches and leaves. At the said time, with immaculate precision, the flower buds and blooms into a magnificent beauty. Desirable and appealing to all. Over time and with changes in seasons – harmattan and rain, the splendour, the beauty all begin to fade. One by one each petal falls to the ground, until it’s completely gone, withered, vanished.  Forgotten by all who ever knew it. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1. My little prayer for you today is – Lord please help the people reading this realize their moments and utilize the opportunities you bring their way before it fades. Nothing lasts forever, please help them make the most of time. Post Image courtesy of vitasamb2001.at freedigitalphotos.net

There is nothing so quick Nothing so fleeting Nothing so slippery Like opportunity   It requires long preparation Perseverance and hard work To make use of it It requires a wise and a discerning heart To recognize it   Once opportunity knocks at your door Don’t think twice Don’t deliberate or consult people over it Before it quickly and quietly slips away   Grab it and maximize it It will always be to your benefit Only if you seize the moment   “The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong…time and chance happen to them all.”…Ecclesiastes 9:11   Image courtesy of iosphere at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Blank … blank … That’s what filled my mind as I stared at the screen of my laptop, wondering what my words for today were going to be. I needed to write a piece and couldn’t find the inspiration to do it. Blank … blank …  My mind turned up nothing as I tried harder to force myself to write. Should I draw from a past experience or talk about a story from the bible? Should I relate it to something I saw happen or create a fiction right from scratch? Blank … blank, again Then suddenly, a light bulb came on. Something I heard that has stuck in my mind; something that I read many years ago that has defined my life in many ways: “The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong but time and chance happens to them all” The concept of time and chance was taught to me very early by my parents. They told me when I was just a little girl about how to achieve success in life. Much of what they said and did mirrored the simple principle of life that whateve...