Raising Leaders by Raising Readers

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone is thinking".

Vikki's friends had gotten used to this quote by Harukin Murakami because that's always her response each time they complain about the number of hours she spend in the library. Her aunt had told her earlier that she needed to study hard, even outside the school syllabus because having a unique thought was the major thing that got her the lucrative job that she's currently doing and Vikki was determined to do just that.

Precious; one of Vikki's friends on the other hand was a dependent student who almost lost her friends because they hated the shame of relating with someone who has been caught cheating in the exam hall times without number.

Her friends decided to make her do her homework on her own on a fateful day and apparently she didn't do it since there was nobody to copy, she therefore decided to feign sickness and rest at the sick bay throughout Mr. Kolapo's class.

...........................

"I sent for you ma" said the school counsellor to Mrs. Gorge; Precious' mum.

She asked her about Precious' academic performance and how they have been assisting her with her homework. Mrs Gorge was dumbfounded and the counsellor told her that she was at the sick bay the previous day eavesdropping Precious as she was soliloquising on how she would have been a better student if her mum had not indulged her to play while her elder brother writes her homework for her.

Mrs Gorge felt bad because she has tried to correct that since her daughter got admitted to the high school but she just seem to have lost interest in studying. Everyone knows Mrs Kome as a blunt counsellor.... Mrs Gorge therefore had to accept the bitter truth since it's for the betterment of her daughter.

Mrs Kome added that if we don't want to breed uneducated graduates in our society, children are to be guided, not otherwise.

"Readers are leaders and vice versa". Independent studying has to start from childhood so that they won't be lazy to read whenever they have the opportunity to read books that will add value to their lives outside school.

Mrs. Gorge thanked her and promised to change and not to repeat the same mistake on her younger children.

If you don't study now that you have exams to write, will you be able to study books that will add value to you when there are no grades attached?

Yesterday was world book day and I just wish to show you the importance of studying. Read good books, read your Bible and become a better person.

Happy belated world book day.
~ Deborah Ajala.

IWD; The Woman in a Small Body

Mrs. Pat; Tania's lesson teacher got to the Smart's by 04:00pm with the hope of commencing her tutorial immediately after saying "Hi" but she was surprised to meet her crying.

"Tanny dear, what's wrong?" She inquired as she tried to tickle her, but Tania didn't laugh, which is so much unlike her. She rather cried at the top of her voice that she wanted to be a boy at all cost. Her mum who has tried to comfort her had to leave her to quickly check what she was cooking shortly after Mrs. Pat came.

"My mum's younger sister just left here and she is the only woman doing well in our family" Tania said when she finally pulled herself together. Mrs Pat sobs as she paid attention to Tania. Tania mentioned that Aunty Rachael; her mum's sister probably has that opportunity because she is not yet married, the best thing she had ever seen her mum do is house chores while her dad has won several awards for himself and his company. Girls are also are the most vulnerable to child abuse.

Calm down Tania; Mrs. Pat finally said when Tanny was done lamenting. You know that I am married with children right? Tanny nodded affirmatively as her teacher continues. I am working and some other women are doing great things too. Besides, my pastor is a woman and the minister of education is a woman as well. Recently, many people, organizations and the government have started protecting the girl child by advocating for their safety and enforcing laws against abuse.

Things are changing, just endeavour to be the best version of yourself. No sane person will put an incompetent man in a position that a competent and courageous woman should be.

Even though your mum is a full-house-wife, she has greatness on the inside of her and I believe that your dad will permit her to explore one day just as Lapidoth did not hinder prophetess Deborah in the Bible.

"Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world"
~ Hillary Clinton

We are unique, we are great, we are strong and can multitask easily. We are created to support and complement men, not to compete with them, okay?

Tania was relieved and Mrs. Pat decided to end the conversation by saying "Hi five great woman" but before their hands could meet, a masculine voice responded from behind saying; "Thanks Pat, my wife will begin to work henceforth so that she can unleash the greatest in her..... Tania is just ten, she is not yet a woman ooo", he teased. "No dad, I am a woman in a small body" Tania responded and they all laughed as he ended the conversation by telling her that she was too smart for her age.

Tania was fired up and resolute not to be intimidated and she became the first female governor thirty years later.

Dear reader, gender is not a barrier. Our girls are women in small bodies, do not kill the giant in them. Just like men, every woman has to be fulfilled. Gone are the days when she will only be useful in the house and useless to herself and the society. I celebrate every woman out there because it is our day. We are multipliers and Nation builders. God has given us the ability to strike the balance between family and work.

Happy International Women's Day  Queens of the Most High.

~ Deborah Ajala.

RELATING WITH YOUR CHILDREN AT BAD TIMES.

Bad times! There are times parents do not have enough resources to meet the needs of their children, times when things are just unpleasant and quite difficult to figure out.

Lack of sufficient funds causes some changes in people's character, but is it a time to speak harshly to the children when they present their request?

They are so fragile and tender. What we fail to understand is that, no matter how young they are, they sometimes understand what their parents are going through, so they also feel the pain as much as you do.

The father of faith (Abraham)... There was nothing to use for the sacrifice, but when Isaac asked him about it... Abraham said, "God will provide" and God eventually did. That struck my heart in the middle of this right up.

Yes, we understand that things are not fine but in order not to aggravate their pains, parents should rather speak pleasant words to them.

It is a time to hide your tears and summon the courage to smile so that they can be fine.

It is a time to apologize for not calling them (cos we do not have airtime, especially when they're in distant places like school) instead of saying words like "must I call you all the time?"

It is a time to say to them... "Don't worry, I will make it up to you, just pray for God's blessings".... Remember that they are the heritage of the Lord and they must be treated as such.

Finally, we all have a wonderful parent, after making our children okay, we can then cast our burden unto God through Jesus & things will miraculously fall in place.

~ Deborah Ajala, 2016 (modified in 2019).

It's my life!

 Like I have always said; "The most delicate gift that God has given to man is 'the will power' which is otherwise known as 'choice'. Use it well."

He is not a cruel God that will force us to do things, we are therefore responsible for our actions. Yes, we know that it's your life and you can choose to live it as it pleases you but always remember that "what goes around comes around."

For every life that you choose, you have predecessors. Why not take your time to find out what their end was like and be sure that you want to end that way too before choosing to live like them.

Your way of life starts with your thoughts which is usually influenced by the things you expose yourself to on the television, social media, place of worship, prayer and study of the word of God, your environment, relationship with God and man...... They get into your subconscious and if you are not careful, they accumulate and become an addiction which in turn becomes your way of life.

You may not be responsible for what comes into your mind but you are responsible for what stays there.

A saying goes thus: "Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions."

Picking words randomly from a number of bible versions; Proverbs 4:23 says: "Above all else, guard/ keep your heart/ thought with all diligence/ vigilance/ caution......"

Mind you, birds of a feather flocks together. In other words, you will always attract the kind of person that you are and this will determine your future partner, business partner and every kind of partner that life has to offer. You don't want to look back and bite your fingers in regret. I am pleased to announce to you that 'control z' doesn't work in real life.

Now that you are young, before today becomes yesterday, you can choose to live right and even if you have missed it, there is room for amendment. Why not do that now before it is too late because some aftermaths are irreversible once the deed is done.

Jesus makes the difference and He will not cast you away if you come to Him now. Just like Apostle Paul (Yes, a perfect example of a wayward person who was converted), we should be able to confess that ......it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. Gal 2:20. I can assure you that it pays to serve Jesus because...... oh the list of the benefits is endless.
Shalom!

~Deborah Ajala.