EXPAND YOUR NETWORK! GROW YOUR NET WORTH!

“The Richest People in the World look for and build NETWORKS, everyone else looks for work”. –   Robert Kiyosaki

As a corporate professional, expert or entrepreneur, networking is a key activity that is often neglected by many but critical to your personal growth and business development.

Whether you are growing company or small business, it is all about networking, building relationships and taking deliberate action. 

Building successful businesses take a lot of time and drive, therefore it’s always good to have a network of friends and associates to draw energy from and keep you going.

This is where the Young Adult Professional & Entrepreneur (YAP&E) social networking event becomes the ‘next best thing’ to happen to your personal and professional development.

YAP&E provides you a fun, engaging and highly interactive platform that surrounds you with people who share a similar drive and ambition to yours.

Generally you are more likely to move forward as a group but that’s not the only benefit of networking via YAP&E. In fact that’s only the beginning. 

                                   

                                               Young adult professionals & entrepreneurs interact at a YAP&E event

“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs”

10 BENEFITS OF NETWORKING WITH YAP&E

1.      Raising awareness about you: This is an opportunity for you as an individual, to not only tell your unique story but to sell it! Also, because you would be telling it to at least two to three persons at a time, it is important to remember that these are folks you probably have never met before. So consider this the grand stage of opportunity.

2.      Sharing and solving problems: During the motions of communication you grasp the opportunity to be a beneficiary of what your counterpart may have described as the solution his/her business provides and vice-versa.

3.      Building strong relationships and rapport: A fun atmosphere that is calming and properly organized really helps to get participants to relax and bond. It would surprise you just how easy it is to connect with a supposed total stranger once a mutual interest is identified.

                               

                                       Young adult professionals & entrepreneurs interact at a YAP&E event

4.      Developing partnerships, leads and referrals: This is the big bang – collaboration. A very             interesting conversation about individual interests, services and solutions soon creates a superior         energy that is the result of two or more people coming together to create clever solutions for a             greater good.

5.      Becoming more influential in your industry: Your good-naturedness alone during a networking event could be your greatest unique selling point. In his book – The Way To The Top – Donald Trump interviews several business gurus on ‘the best business advice they have ever received’. And the one that stood out for me was ‘People like to work with people they like.’ Be the likeable person and you’re on your way to the top.

6.      Increasing efficiency and productivity: When you interact with people with like minds, one thing is sure, you learn. By hearing what others have done and experiencing their own success, you learn where you need to improve and how to go about it. And in so doing you enlarge your capacity for greater productivity and better efficiency.

7.      Educate yourself on industry trends and opportunities: You remain on top of your game. You can effortless articulate what products and or services rule the market and properly re-position your brand in a volatile market having gleaned wise counsel during your interaction with game changers.

 

                                                 Young adult professionals & entrepreneurs interact at a YAP&E event

8.      Identifying goals: Imagine being in a networking event and your first interaction is with an emerging competition. What better moment to identify possible ways to better align your products and services to your consumers without the fear of being run out of town.  See your challenges as an opportunity for growth!

9.      Increased confidence: Many people shy away from networking as ‘boring or bookish’. Roam wasn’t built in a day. It takes one networking event after another to build confidence in ‘you’ first and then gain trust in others. This is why you must not miss a YAP&E event! Visit www.yapande.com for more info.

10.  Great connections: YAP&E is the ideal place for all young corporate professional, businessmen & women, experts and founders. It is a phenomenal mix of interesting people from various fields coming together to create a superior energy that is able to propel each person and or group into their next level of genius!

                                                                

JOIN US to Network on the 26^th of February 2015 @ Ginger Tapas & Grill, Cosmopolitan Mall, 6A Ologun Agbaje, off Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island.

Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

For more information email pr@yapande.com or funke.shonekan@yapande.com or visit www.yapande.com

Follow us on twitter @yapande & on Instagram @YAPANDE, and Follow us on LinkedIn @YAP&E

          www.facebook.com/youngAdultProfessionalsEntrepreneurs

                                                     "Watch http://youtu.be/i13s1lc-cEc"

He came back!

Sunday Afternoon

One of those days you just want to hide away in the house, lay on your bed and do nothing… or maybe read your favorite book.  Yeah, that's the state I was… with my favorite book written by my favorite author - Francine Rivers.

'knock knock knock'

I cringed inwardly, my first thought was to totally ignore the person.  It would have been better if I didn't have to stand up to open the gate myself, but I had to.

'Knock Knock Knock'

This person was persistent.

There goes my afternoon alone.  I walked sadly to the gate, half praying it was someone worth the sacrifice.  When I opened the gate, I was greeted with His smile.  There before my eyes stood my friendly stranger, as gorgeous as I remembered him the first time we met years

ago.  I wasn't sure what to do… Jump on Him, Hug Him?  I just stood there smiling dumbly.

"You have a penchant for making unannounced visits" I finally said

"It's my style" He said

"May I come in?"

"Sure" I said suddenly remembering my manners.

We walked into the house lost in our individual thoughts.  Moments we shared 2 years ago played in my head.  I had thought he was an angel, but do angels visit twice?  I tried stifling my disappointment that He wasn't an angel after all.

We sat down and for a couple of minutes just looked at each other. I was waiting to hear what message he had brought me this time.  As far as I knew, everything was perfect for me, God had answered almost all my prayers.

He broke the silence

"How are you?"

"I'm great" I said smiling

"I hear your dreams have come true, you now work with children?"

"Are you stalking me?" I asked

He smiled. "How are you enjoying your new job?"

"It's  awesome" I said " I get to spend the whole day with children, be myself all day without anyone judging me"

" You don't take long walks anymore?  I haven't seen you on that path for a while" He asked

"Nah, I get back really late so I just take a bike"

"And you leave the house when"?

"Very very early"

"So you barely have time for anything else?"

"Yeah, I am so busy now I barely have time for myself. I'm out so early and get back late at night. I ….." my voice trailed off as a sudden realization hit me… He was drawing me to something.  I looked at Him and just then He looked so sad.

"You have forgotten me" He said in a very soft whisper

"I made your dreams come true. I gave you what you desired most,  your deepest heart cry I gave to you on a platter of gold, but it has taken you away from me.  Those long walks you used to take, when we would talk and you would sing to me songs no one had ever heard… I loved them, I looked forward to them."

'I'm so sorry" I whispered

"I came just to hear you speak to me. You are my desire, I am very passionate about you"   I Love to see you happy and content,  but don't let my gift be the reason you drift away from Me.  I gave you to draw you closer to myself,  not the pull you away.

He stood up and walked up to me "Stand up"

I stood before Him, ashamed of myself, of my actions ever since I got the job.

He pulled me into a hug. I relaxed on Him and whispered in His ears "I am so sorry"

"You are forgiven my love"

We sat down and he asked me to tell Him all about my new job.  We talked and laughed for hours, time seemed not to matter.

"Thank you, for making my dreams come true"  I said

"Thank you for bringing me great joy" He said.

He stood up to leave.  I didn't ask Him to stay, I didn't ask when I would see Him again.  I knew that I would see Him every day, and we would talk every day.  He never really left me, and even though He didn't say who He was, I knew that my friendly stranger wasn't a stranger at all,  neither was He an angel..  but my Lord, my Love, my Saviour… My Jesus.

Like little children.

Happy New Month... but let’s go back a little bit....

Christmas was awesome, not really because of the food and drinks and having family around, but because of the little tiny moment of inspiration, God gave me that birthed this article.  It was such a tiny moment that if I did not pay attention to, I would have missed it.

So... we usually have a huge Christmas party every year at my parent’s place in our hometown, Ibadan where we host friends and family.  I like to think of it as a small family reunion; I get to see uncles and aunties I have not seen during the year or for many years.  I get to see cousins that have grown much taller or cousins that were once in diapers but now have beards... little girls that have become young ladies etc.   

This year was no different. 

Now stay with me, I am getting to the tiny moment...

I was serving the guests as usual and my little niece was running around with two other little boys that were about her age or maybe a year older.  They were having so much fun; laughing and squealing with joy at their little “catch me if you can” game.  Suddenly, she fell down.  I was going to scold her and maybe spank her (grown-ups are so quick to do that) and stop the game.  Then it happened, in slow motion... the boys quickly ran to her side, helped her get up and then started dusting off all the grass and dust that had gathered on her clothes.  I stood there and just stared in awe of what was happening before me. (It was really a slow motion picture).

I smiled and that moment brought tears to my eyes.  It was so cute and beautiful.  These were kids she had never met before and they were even boys (some guys should get some lessons on how to be gentlemen from those kids).  I walked away from the scene but I caught a glimpse of this same scene reoccurring a few more times and the boys always picked her up and dusted off the dirt before continuing their game.  They even removed the grass on her hair; they were very thorough.

Early last year, I started a course on Child Psychology and it has made me very aware of children and their behaviour.  Maybe this was what made me catch this tiny moment or maybe God really wanted me to learn something from it.  Whichever way, that seemingly insignificant moment brought a scripture to mind “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:3-4

Christianity is slowly becoming a hostile religion because we have all decided to behave like grown-ups.  We are quick to judge each other, point fingers, laugh at people who are down and raise our noses at people who are not perfect in our own eyes.  We smile at each other in church but kill ourselves in our hearts.

What if we all picked each other up when we fall instead of laughing, pointing fingers, posting on Facebook, and tweeting about it.  What if we extended our hand to help before using them to tell the world about the hypocrisy and injustice that had happened.  Ok, let us even leave social media.  What about gossiping about church members that make a mistake?  Some people even begin to avoid them so that they don’t get contaminated or even tagged a sinner too.  Where is the Love?

What if we all love each other with pure love as little children do?  Many times, the same people that judge and criticize people like this are close friends that have eaten at the same table with them. 

The church has become a masquerade ball; a place where people come in with masks.  They hide their pain, their sin, their suffering in order to keep up their image and remain a part of the so-called church family.  Many weak people in church pretend to be strong; people in high positions that contend with sins they cannot tell anyone about.  Then they find other avenues to express these sins and one mistake, one moment of carelessness (moment mostly arranged by God to set them free), and we tear them down with immediate effect.

What if we all helped each other when we fall?  Catch each other when we trip.  Hold weary hands and raise feeble knees that stoop to fall, pick each other up, dust off the mess on our clothes and continue on the journey to meet our father, rather than trampling on each other.

I often wonder what Jesus would have done if he were in our time right now, with all the scandals happening in the church, the denials, betrayals etc, would He be quick to sign in to twitter or Facebook and pour insults on the culprits?  If a church member got pregnant out of wedlock, would he backbite and avoid that person, love the person or would He pray and find a way to help?

Beloved, before you tweet anything, post on Facebook or talk about the flaws of anyone, take a moment to ask yourself; how can I help?  And if you can’t reach the person personally, a little prayer would do wonders.

Let us obey the words of our master Jesus... be like little children.

So help us God.

By His stripes, we are Rich!!!

Does it sound absurd?  Read it again pls.

Does it still sound absurd?  I’m I the only one thinking it is absurd?  I’m seating at the reception of one of the biggest advertising companies in Nigeria, chilling for an interview and instead of rehearsing my lines (I’m I the only one that does that?), I’m thinking about this statement and the man of God that caused this line of thought and writing this note.

In his words, “Many people will get to heaven, and God will show them all the cars, lands, property, and money they were supposed to have on earth” I know these things are not bad, but is that what is in the mind of God?  Is that all there is to existing on earth?  So, when you have owned everything, what next?  To what end is chasing after all these things anyway? For the fleeting pleasures that will end here on earth?

Did Jesus die so we could have earthly treasures?  Were those his thoughts as He was whipped and as he carried that cross to Calvary? 

“Lord, by these stripes, give them cars, houses and every earthly treasure”

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with these things, but when they become your yardstick for measuring success and approval of your life on earth by God then you have it all wrong.  These things are mere blessings that God gives man out of the goodness of His heart; he blesses both the sinner and the saint.  The bible says “... for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45

God does NOT care how many cars, houses or how much wealth you amass here on earth, it is very inconsequential to Him.  If that was the reason He sent His son to die, then we are all doomed.  If that is all He wanted us to have, then Jesus should have just stayed in heaven.

The only thing God is interested in is the souls of men.  I don’t know what will happens when we die, I have never died before. However, I have heard people say and read in books that when we stand before God, our entire life will flash before us and many will weep in deep deep deep sorrow for the life they lived.  I doubt if these people will be weeping because of all the cars, houses, lands, and money they did not own on earth.  I believe they would be weeping for their soul and the many souls that perished as a result of the foolish choices they made on earth.

It is sad that many people would read the title of this note and think how absurd it is, but in reality, that is exactly how they are living.  Many Christians only serve God because of what He can give them; they are not a tad bit interested in what God requires of them.  May I remind you that none of these things will get you into heaven; they would not even follow you to your grave.  In the eyes of God, they are only chaff that will burn in the fiery judgment of God.

Only the things you do that align with the heart of God will stand and speak for you in the presence of God.  It is an insult to think that the stripes Jesus bore are only for your own lustful and earthly benefits.  God will not allow you make a mockery of such great sacrifice.  So, while you are busy chasing all these things on earth, ask yourself this question; to what end?  If all you have accomplished and all you are worth on earth is a couple of houses, cars, money etc, then in the eyes of God you are worthless.

I’ll leave you with this thought...

¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Choose therefore how you will build... Wood, hay, and straw (all earthly treasures) do not do very well in fire.  Pursue God, chase after His heart and not the things of this world.  His stripes are worth more that mere cars, money, houses and every other worthless thing we pursue here on earth. In God's eyes, they are only 'things' 'add-ons'.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Matthew 6:33

So help us God.

The Friendly Stranger

The bus dropped me off at Jakande bus stop as usual.  The day had been so hectic I stretched on the road not minding who was looking at me, my bones needed that stretch.

I looked left, right and left again then crossed over to the other side.  As usual, there was no bike thanks to the lovely BRF.  The thought of walking all the way home again made me groan physically.  I paused, looked up to the sky and asked the lord for strength to get home in one piece and survive Lagos.

I started walking down the road, I passed by the woman that sold yam, plantain and stew with cucumber, I always bought cucumber from her, but that day, I was too tired to even pause and buy.

“Aunty good evening.  You no buy today?” her daughter asked

“No, Mama good evening o, how market?” I replied acknowledging the girl and greeting her mum.

I kept walking after the pleasantries.  I looked back and saw a black jeep coming towards me.  I’m not very good with cars, so I don’t know what kind of jeep it was.  I only know it was one of those types that looked like a box with wheels.  I remember thinking to myself ‘here comes one of those box drivers again’.  I physically shook my head and gave way for the jeep to pass.  Mile 2 roads are that bad.

Surprisingly, the Jeep stopped and the window on the passenger’s seat slowly came down.  On a normal day, with how tired I was, I would have walked away, but when i saw the guy in the Jeep I was glued to the ground.

“Hi, can I give you a lift?”

“No, thank you” I said sharply and moved my legs.

“I’ll keep following you if you don’t talk to me”

Now that got me.  As fine as they guy was in his box, I sincerely didn’t want him to follow me home. I stopped and looked at him.

“What do you want” I asked.  Hoping my eyes were not betraying me and letting him see the effect his fineness was having on me.  Eyes have a bad habit of not minding their own business.

“Can I give you a ride home” he asked

“No, thank you.  I use this as my daily exercise” I replied.

“Ok, I’ll park my car and walk you home”

Is this guy crazy?  I thought to myself.  “And why would you do that?”

“Because I want to talk to you and since you don’t want me to give you a ride that seemed to be a great option b” he smiled

“Did I mention that I also like to reflect on my day and pray while I walk?  So, I don’t want any distraction” I said hoping to get him to give up and drive away.

“Well, how about I walk with you and not say a word until you get home and can talk to me.  I wouldn’t want to compete with God’s time… he’s a jealous God you know.” He giggled

I couldn’t help but laugh at that comment.  I imagined God frowning at the guy that minute.

“You have a very lovely way of laughing”

I suddenly became aware of his presence again and stopped laughing immediately. 

“We have to reach a compromise.  I am tired and I do not want you to give me a ride or walk me home and you want to talk to me.  

How about I give you my card, so you’d leave me alone to have my solitude walk, you can stay in your car and give me a call later to have that all important talk”

He smiled “That sounds like a plan to me”

I nodded, opened my bag and gave him my card.  He didn’t offer me his and I didn’t ask.  He thanked me, promised to call and drove off.

Honestly, I walked faster so I could get home before he called.  And you guessed right, I couldn’t reflect or pray either because a certain young man with a happy smile, driving a box filled my thoughts and I found myself smiling and looking forward to his call later that night as I walked home. 

When I stepped into the house, my phone rang.  I rushed to the living room dropped my bag and myself on the sofa, ignored my sister’s greeting and picked the call.

“Hello” I said trying to hide my excitement

“errrrm, I’m outside your house.  Can you step out please?”

Before I could protest, he hung up.  Still ignoring my sister, I walked out of the house and literarily ran to the gate.  When I opened it he smiled.

“You were not supposed to follow me home” I said.

“Are you going to ask me in?”

I apologized and asked him to come in.  Like PHCN knew, power came on that minute.  I ushered him into the living room.  My sister had seen us from the window and helped to clear all the mess before we came in… thank God for smart sisters.

When he sat down, I offered him water, but he turned it down.

“Seat down please” he said tapping the space beside him.

I walked over and sat facing him.

“How are you?” He asked.

The sincerity in his voice and eyes made me shiver.

“I’m fine, thank you.  You didn’t keep to our deal.” I managed to say.

He smiled and took my hands in his.  “When you came down from the bus and stretched, I saw you and thought, oh, she must be really tired.  Then you paused and looked into the sky and at that moment the Lord said to me ‘Give her a ride home’.  When you refused my offer, I did not argue because the Lord told me not to”.

His face assumed a more serious look “God told me to come tell you that what you are going through is only a phase that will not kill you but make you stronger.  He said he sees your heart and your longing to serve, he knows your desire to be with children instead of in an office.  Infact, He said that is what you always discuss with him every time you walk home after work.  He says I should tell you that though it tarries, the vision He has put in your heart will come to pass because He has a plan and you are right in the middle of it.”

“He also said he knows how tired you are and how many times you have been on the verge of giving up, but He says you should hold on because He is with you always and is working everything out for your good.”

I was crying because everything he said was true.   He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped my tears.  “Finally he told me to tell you that He loves you.”  I didn’t follow you home, He told me where to find you and said I needed to deliver his message to you personally and not via a phone call.    Oh and yes… He said he has given you strength to survive in Lagos”

That made me laugh, I was still crying though.  He allowed me simmer down while he looked around the living room.

When I was calm, he said “You have a lovely home”

“Thank you.  You haven’t told me your name” I said.

“That’s not important my dear.  You’d probably never see me again.  Just call me a friend”.

“The friendly stranger?”

“That’s cool”

He stood up to leave.  I stood too, but I didn’t want him to go.  I didn’t want the moment to pass, I wanted to hold on to all that he had told me, I didn’t want to forget and he was the only tangible thing that would help me remember the message.

“What I just told you is right here” he touched my heart.  “You won’t forget it.”

I smiled. 

We walked to the gate and he said goodbye.  Then I realized he wasn’t even with his box(the jeep).  “How did you get here” I asked.

“Never mind” he smiled.

I thanked him for coming all the way to deliver the message. He gave me a hug and walked away.  When he was out of sight, a certain illumination flooded my heart and then I realized I had just been with an angel.

Knight in Shinning Tuxedo

Every time I pictured this moment, I always wondered what would be on my mind.  This fascination always made me stare intently at other brides I had seen take the walk.   I mean, their minds could not be blank during that long walk; they had to be thinking of something.

I stood at the door, watching as everyone tried to arrange my train; I only had a little bride and ring bearer.  I have always had a soft spot for little brides, maybe because I had done several in my tender age, but every time I saw this moment, I only saw a little bride.  Her dress matched mine except for the yellow wings she had and a halo on her head, she looked just like I had pictured her in my many fantasies.

As the organ began to play the hymn “Lord give us Christian Homes”, to usher me in, I started my journey down the aisle.   I thought I’d be thinking of how beautiful I looked and how green with jealousy all the ladies around me would be.  I had imagined my heels breaking in the middle of the aisle, missing a step and falling flat on my little bride and dragging my dad to the floor too (poor old man).  I’d thought I’d be worrying about making a huge mistake with my decision.  I had even imagined myself getting scared and running out of the church screaming for my mummy.  I thought I would be thinking about the fact that I was giving myself to a man and would have to take care of him for the rest of my life, and how my life would no longer be mine.

But I was surprised because my thoughts were far from these, instead, with every step I took, the picture of every guy I had met in my life flashed before my eyes.  All the guys I had been in love with, the ones I dated, the ones I had not dated, the ones who broke my heart and the ones whose heart I shattered, the crushes and the flirts.  One after the other, I saw all of them and each scene played in my head; the pain I felt after each heart break, the foolish things I had done to get their attention, the ache that followed after each rejection.  I felt all these emotions at the same time, I relived all of them.  The struggle to let go of the guy I thought was my life and my world, the pursuit of what I thought was the best thing for me.  Like a slide show, I saw everything flash through my mind.

I thought I’d faint from all the rush of emotions.  Just then I looked straight ahead and saw him, my knight in shining tuxedo.  He smiled that smile and all the negative emotions dissipated.  His smile felt like cold water in the hot summer, his love washed over me, I could literarily feel it drip from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet.  It felt like an electrical surge flowing through my veins, pumping into me strength and courage.   

Suddenly I felt the strong urge to go on my knees and thank God for not making all others work out.  The aisle looked like a tunnel and my Knight looked like a light at the end of the tunnel.  All other memories of every other guy faded into the shadows of his Love. 

I was tempted to look in the crowd and search for the faces of the guys who had walked away from me (if they dared to show up) and whisper a thank you to them (actually the initial thought was to stick out my tongue in their faces).  As painful as it was, truth is if they had not left me (or if I had not left them as the case may be) my Knight would not have found me, if I had not felt the pain of heartbreak, I would never have known what real love felt like.  Tears threatened to fall but I had to pull myself together lest I incur the wrath of my makeup artist.

When we reached the altar and my dad placed my hand in the hands of my Knight, he gently squeezed them and looked straight into my eyes and like the days leading to this moment, I read his unspoken words… the feeling was mutual.

“I do”

I could not imagine myself saying that to any other man.  His love had been a healing balm to my wounds and though I knew this journey we were about to begin would have its ups and downs, I was assured that we would pull through together just as long as he was beside me… his presence was all the confidence I needed.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.  You may kiss your bride”

He gently unveiled my face and as our lips met, the tears spilled.  I was overwhelmed with joy.  When we turned to face the congregation, I silently whispered a heartfelt prayer to God for the pain in the wait, for it was worth it…

It was in that time my Knight found me.

Rat-tled Forgiveness.

I had been fuming about the damages the rats in my house were doing, I was already thinking of a way to get rid of them and you will not believe I actually thought of using Ariel washing powder mixed with something else (I may still try it as soon as I get the other ingredient to add).  I’m kinda cautions about rat poisons because these rats lick my spoons (yes! they are that bad).  I guess you now have an idea of the wickedness that has been in my heart towards these rats.  

This morning I walked into my kitchen and as usual, they had licked the plate I left on the table (I set a trap with no poison).  I shook my head in disgust and annoyance tightening my resolve for the Ariel experiment when I heard a noise by the sink.  I walked over and looked into the bucket of water and behold, there was a rat in it trying to get out.  It had obviously been there probably all night cos its fingers were white and its face too.  Its tummy was a bit bloated which meant it had drunk enough water. 

I instantly felt like God.  I could determine its fate… die or live.  But when I looked at its eyes, I could bet I saw it pleading with me (No seriously!)  I walked away to do something else while trying to decide what to do with the rat then I stumbled on the bucket I keep beans and they had eaten into the cover and made a hole in it.  I was instantly pissed and walked back to the bucket and looked at the rat with utter disgust, accusing it of eating into my bucket.  I also remembered my bucket of wheat which they ate into last week.

When I looked into the eyes of the rat again, all my anger dissipated.  The poor thing was fighting for its life and here I was, I had the options to free it or kill it for its sins.  But I was sure I didn’t want it running around my house again.  If I let it go, it would just scurry to the next hole, if I let it go outside the house, it would find its way back.  And as much as I loved cartoons, this was reality.  At least in those Tom and Jerry episodes I had watched, when Tom is nice to Jerry, they become friends, but that rat was certainly not Jerry.  It wouldn't just go and tell all its fellow rats to leave my house because I saved its life.  Or would it?

I thought about all this and decided that I didn’t have the heart to kill it.  So, I took the bucket to the gate man(I know, very wicked)  Immediately the guy saw the rat he said ‘God don catch you’ and proceeded to kill it, I turned my face away, but saw him smash the rats head on the floor like twice.  As the lifeless body of the rat lay on the floor, a terrible feeling engulfed me.  I was a heartless woman, how could I have let him kill that rat after it pleaded with me? 

I couldn’t shake off the feeling even while on my way to work.  I felt very sad.  I felt like I had failed a huge test.  If Jesus stood over that rat like I did, what would he have done?  One thing it taught me though was Forgiveness. 

God’s mercy is amazing; this simple incident opened my heart to this truth.  I imagined myself as the rat, being in a ditch and God looking down at me.  I wondered, would he be remembering all my past faults?  Times when I have called his name in vain, taken His glory and mercy for granted etc.  Would he even be considering his options and thinking of the risk he would be taking by rescuing me?  Truly, lots of people that are in deep trouble run to God with lots of promises of what they will do for Him if He rescued them, but ones they are free, they go right back to their sins. 

Or would he look on me with Love, reach out and rescue me?   God took and still takes the highest risk on all of us.  He sent his only son to die for us even when He knew we would not appreciate it.  Can we do the same for other people who have deeply offended us?  Even when we know they would commit that same offence again and again?

Jesus command was for us to forgive 70 x 7 times.  And his life was and still is a very good example of the command he left us.  Jesus did not just say it, he lived and still lives it in and trough us every minute, every second of every day.

Think about it, we consistently disobey him, destroy His world, do evil to one another and yet He looks on us and forgives us.  When we are in danger and call to him, he does not strike us dead because of all our past unrepentant sins, he saves, forgives and releases us and then sometimes, we go right back to our filthy sin yet he keeps forgiving and embracing us.

This is hard for many to handle, forgiveness is one of the hardest things we are called to embrace as Christians, but if Jesus could do it, so can we. 

The world will be a much better place if we lived in Love and forgave one another.

So help us God.

Toodles. :)