Do Not Lose The 'Lamide' In You!

Time Check: 16:20 pm

17/01/2009.

Venue: At home-Dad's residence

'Lamide Olonisola is two years old and would be three in July(giggling). Now she is one of my favourite kids at d moment. She is one of the kids that I have the priviledge of baby sitting presently. I have come to grow really fond of this child for so many reasons, but am gonna share a few now. Basically because she is a cool example of what am about to share with us in this note.

Now as I write this , am out in the compound basically for two reasons:

1. PHCN has done their thingy

2. Lamide wont just let be me!- she wants 'aunty boya' to give her some ribbon stuff and am trying to hide from her...

Ooops! She is right on the balcony shouting my name yet again! And before I say,'hey', she is downstairs screaming my name yet even louder! Here she is with an oversized bathroom slippers! (lol) What am I really driving at? Now am taking some 'poses' of her and I will let u see them too!She wants to 'dethrone ' me from where am seated. You bet if she had put more pressure on me, I might just have gotten up and let her 'excellency' sit . You know children in their usual selfish manner as if they are the only ones that matter in this life.If Lamide wants something, she is gonna wear you out till you have done it or given it! That reminds me of the story of the judge and the widow that Jesus told. (I just threw some stones at a nasty cock that just wont stop crowing and then bumping into my thots!) Anyways, Jesus told that story to encourage us of the need to persist in prayers and never give up till God answers. Just like Lamide's constant 'wear out' cry to get her ribbons and infact any other thing she so desires!

Now I have been opportuned to baby sit a good number of children in my ' considerably young life', so I sure know what am talking about when I say to you that there isnt a better way to get 'ribbons' from God than in the child-like way!

I'll explain...

One very remarkable verse of the scripture and infact,one of the most profound statements that Jesus made is in the Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 18:1-5. I wannna draw your attention to verses 3-4, ''unless you turn to God from your sins and become as little children,you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven,therefore anyone who humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven''. Talk about Humility!

Lemme bring this 'down' a little- I mean a little closer to us still using dear Lamide as a 'case study'.

The other day she wanted me to give her a ribbon, now 'aunty boya' is so sure that she is isnt 'big' enough to use that kinda -by d way, 'aunty boya' still uses hair ribbons too afterall,she sef still be 'pikin!'(lol). Lamide wont just believe that she can not use them now, so she has been wearing me out with her constant plea for it. Today again, she had seen those ribbons on my dressing table and has resumed her endless plea, ''gimme now,aunty boya,gimme now...then I ask wat? (like I didnt know what it was she wanted,and she replied,''this one now...pointing to it). She doesnt even know the name of what she wants-same way,some children of God don't even know what the name or even what they want from Him! Today as she resumed on it, I was in the bathroom (earlier today I mean), and I had the bathroom door open so that I could still keep an eye on her as she was in the room-(leaving that fellow alone in the room could be trouble!)She carried OSKAR in her hand and this time threatened to 'strangle' him if I didnt give her the stuff. So I yelled from the bathroom,''I will give you'' just so that she would let poor Oskar go! She calmed down a bit and waited kinda eagerly till I returned from my seemingly endless shower! On my ' glorious' return from the bathroom, she wouldnt even let me dress up. She started yet again! I honestly was getting really pissed by now but I maintained my 'cool! 'Then I said to her as a matter of honesty,''Lamide, I will give you but not now'' She gave me a look I cant really explain . Then when it looked like she was gonna cry,I repeated it and this time,slowly''...I will give you but not now'',then added,'''you hear?'' She nodded..but na lie! The next minute ,she was asking !! arrrgh!!!!

Now the I will give you later thingy that I said,does it sound familiar? It sure should. Isnt that the way we whine, cry,scream like God was deaf to ask Him what He has said He would do but not yet?Just because we want it ,we want it just when we want it! We forget that there isnt anything that would make Him do for us today what He would do tomorrow! We forget that He knows and understands our capability and ability to handle such and such and no matter how hard we try,if we have not developed and are still ''too young'' to handle those 'ribbons', He would not give them to us?Not because He is evil but that he knows us too well. If He does give it to us when we cant use yet use it, it is just like' aunty boya'giving Lamide a car to ride just because she asks for it(by the way, that baby asks for just anything that she feels like it). You daddy delays,we should get it that we haven't the capacity to handle it(and that is if we are to handle such 'ribbons' at all in the first place)!

As I write this, there are a lot of thoughts that come to my mind but I wanna share some . You know, there are some ''toys'' or {''ribbons'' }if you like, that are written on them ,'not suitable for chidren betwen this age and that age' Seen them Before? Now, those toys are better (according to the manufacturer), for those specified ages but there are some cases where some ''seemingly underaged'' children can use those toys while the ones that have ''seem'' or have 'come of age' cannot use them! What do you think is wrong or amiss here? Am talking about a case where there isnt anything wrong with the toys, no factory fault issue, no manufacturer error, no imbecilic tendencies in the child or children involved...I mean a an 'ok' situtation. Picture that already? Then follow me closely now... What then do you think is the challenge here? Simple! One child has developed capacity to use those toys and the other has not. Age isn't the issue here(picture Solomon and Methuselah) but one has taken time to probably watch another child use them and learnt from there or over time, learnt on the use of the toys with a constant use of it! While the one that has come of age, is only waiting to get to the age that he can use the toy before he does while the other sees the 'toys' as a challenge that he 'must' and 'can' overcome! And you know what happens? Daddy will naturally give him more toys just because he has proved him self over time! Feel dat? Imagine the toys being life challenges, talents, time spent with Him, the list goes on... And it isnt how old you have been being His child that matters here now but your availability and willingness to embrace those toys. maybe am being too seriuos here but I cant seem to help it...So please permit me to go on a little bit more! Wont He show you more stuffs to the willing child? Wont He give the seeing child more revelations and more hurdles to overcome than the child who wont wanna take up his 'toys' or his 'cross' if you wanna call it that? Wont it be the quality of your walk with Him that will matter at the end of the day?Feel it more now? As it ever occured to you that it might just be that those seemingly underaged children developed capacity early enough either by design or by accident or even by their 'experience' or 'exposure ' to such toys and their refusal not to be discouraged inspite of any thing that they face. God our Father places 'toys' in His children's hands based on their ability per time. I have seen a child of eight(8) show the one of ten(10) how to use certain toys! Now those are some of the times I agree that age aint nothing but a number! One child has grown to capacity and ability and the other has not!And then when 'daddy' gives the latter more 'toys', the former whines,sulks and even cries and then wonders why 'daddy' is so mean?!Truth is, child of the most High, You will have to develop capacity! How you ask? Let a child try ...

When daddy brings home those 'toys' that you think you cant handle, instead of complaining or grumbling, gratefully take them and find out how and what you can make of them. When it isnt even as if daddy wont still help you out when you need help(James 1:2-6). Feel me now? It is in handling them that capacity comes to handle more. One more thing, you have to continue with your child-like way of asking. Dont stop reminding daddy for more toys, you will find out that you may not need some 'toys' at all and that you need some time in some other cases to be able to develop capacity to handle what you are asking for! And When daddy says hold on, u wont be like Lamide who still goes on to sulk,whine or cry. You will just calm down and patiently wait for daddy's gloriuos return on those cases.

Child of God, hang in there a little more,daddy is gonna settle you...Meanwhile, DEVELOP CAPACITY with the 'toys' He has (yet) given you.

Lamide is such a darling(she is back ...) I got to go now ,mum wants me to help her do stuff.Talk to you later,child of God!

Key: Lamide Olonisola is my uncle's daughter

Aunty Boya is her trying to call 'aunty bola'

OsKAr is the name of my teddy.

Bollarnle.©

17:37pm.

17012009.