All Sorts of 'Cute'...

Smile...Please?

So I went out one day and saw a little girl staring at me curiously, her little fist in her mouth while she looked at me the way a scientist would analyse a specimen, then she gave me a shaky smile. I had to call on all my vestiges of self-control to keep from checking myself to be sure I didn't have poop or puke on me! That would make a kid smile!

Same day, on my way home, I saw a child peeking at me from the window of an SUV and when I smiled at her, she ducked back into the car and then peeked out again shyly to smile back at me. I felt happy, inexplicably though but maybe it was because I felt truly adored and liked just for being me. I know kids are innocent but having those two kids smile at me the way they did plain made my day!

I realized then that as much as we all may like to lay claims on enjoying our independence and on not caring what other people may think of us, something in us - perhaps the little child that I've heard resides in everybody - still appreciates it when someone can smile at us genuinely in appreciation or in silent acknowledgement that we have done well. Though for all I knew, those cuties might have smiled at everyone they laid eyes on that day but I wasn't going to let that spoil my day!

Tell me, whenever you pulled one huge deal off brilliantly and your boss patted you on the back and said, "You've done well', or whenever you got a nice and high grade in school and your parents said, "Now, that's my kid!" you have to admit that you must have felt like you were on cloud nine. As far as I am concerned, a warm smile/hug or a pat on the back or a nice word or two ain't never killed no one! (forgive the double negative!)

There was a time when I was as tight-fisted as...well, as anybod

y! What was mine was mine and if you didn't like me for that, I didn't care at all. Then one day after asking God to help me change, I saw a colleague who had not had breakfast and asked her if she'd mind sharing mine and as she ate, I felt this joy in me. My heart felt light, and the contented and appreciative look on her face made me realize that what was mine had to be others' if they needed it. Many times, its not easy to have to give N50 out of your last N100 but when you actually do and you see the joy on the recipient's face, you have to admit that you do feel like a king. Giving brings joy but it needs to be done in love!

Three years ago, while in college, a roommate of mine was undertaking a project in her fellowship group and I saw that she was throwing all she had into it: time and money. I respected her a lot for it. Then I woke up one morning and while observing my devotions, it was impressed upon my heart to tell her 'Well done'. So when I finished, I told her 'Well done' and she smiled so hard, I thought her face would split! She appreciated it so much and I saw her put in more effort into the project and she pulled it off successfully. I am under no illusions that it was because of me that she pulled it off but my word of encouragement must have made her realize that she wasn't wasting her time. She must have been on the verge of discouragement then a good positive word must have put her firmly back on her feet and made her feel purposeful.

I 'd like to tell you that a good word will always work great changes and that everyone will always appreciate it but that, however, is not the case.

There was a time when I was at the standing on the beach, letting the water wash my feet and being daring enough to let it get to my knees when this little boy came and tugged on my hands and whined, 'Aunty, please hold me. I want the water to touch my leg but I'm scared that it will carry me away'. I was surprised but I obliged him and held his hand and urged him to take a few steps forward with me. He looked at me with big eyes and held back. Feeling like a reasonable and worldly aunt, I said, 'You can do it, you are a brave boy, right?' and then I tugged on his arm again. Trust me, the boy snatched his hand from mine and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. I can imagine him muttering under his breath as he ran, 'That aunty is not serious, she wants to kill me'. Well, I tried my best!

On a more serious note though, some people don't want you to give them an encouraging word. they'd just think you were being patronizing. In that case, you need to know when to speak and when to just smile... genuinely.

Develop a giving spirit. I know people who wouldn't mind giving their whole worldly possessions or writing heavy checks that'll make you need a arm massage but they'd never part with a smile or a hug. Their hearts are kept under lock and key. They don't understand that smiles, as cheap as they seem, have prevented lots of suicides and given many people cause for hope that there is still some kindness in the world.

This might all seem pointless to you but if you like, you can try it today. A simple experiment...give someone a genuine, straight-from-the-heart smile and make them feel like they are worth every one of those three  beautiful seconds.



Hello Innocence, Long Time No See....

Just take a look at those eyes, spells T.R.U.S.T.?!!!

'You just have to adore me!' this little madam seems to be saying...

Oh my God...they are sooo innocent...captivating cherubic beauty. Personally, I have had moments when a gummy smile, nice 'kiss-make-better's' and tender touches from tiny tots made a bad day alright for me and I am pretty sure you can relate with me too, right?...why would anyone, any villain, try to take all that sweet innocence away? I am trying my darndest best to comprehend why one of these villains would see the chubby little arms (capable of giving you warm, tight and sticky hugs!) and feet, the watery and trusty big eyes gazing up at you, knowing that for sure you are capable of taking away the pains, capable of curing the aches caused by hunger pangs; behind these huge eyes lies a little brain thinking "for sure, these arms that I see are big enough to enfold me 'cause I'm hurting so much on my inside, its hard for me to breath; those eyes look like they are full of wisdom so surely, this soul knows what I am feeling, huh?"...perhaps, that sweet soul is yet to know about God but, believe me, the love that it is capable of is the sort that can consume you and bare all your guilt before you, leaving you broken...I ponder on all these and even more puzzled, I wonder:  why would anyone want to take this rare golden innocence away and replace it with the ugly and stony gall of bitterness and impure corruption? Maybe, you are still wondering why the land is infested with young miscreants...little tykes whose immature minds have been messed with from the time they were still using pink potties and learning to recite their ABC's and numericals and these tykes, full of experience though young will do just about anything they are told just because the person issuing the command/order seems to be the only one who will ruffle their hair and pat their backs 'well done' after they have successfully carried out nasty misdeeds. These now-not-so-innocent souls never knew to kneel beside their beds with Pa and Ma on each side teaching them to speak to the 'Big Man Upstairs' whenever any need arose...no the way they know to collect is by manipulation or trickery...

My little cousin Buchi and I...no kids for me yet!!!

...and that's not all...what about those little pig-tailed or corn-row haired girls whose 'innocence' is now history thanks to this pervert-infested ball of a world..these days, the few people who are still in possession of their hearts cry out and are deeply impassioned for these sad phenomenon that some choose to ignore as if by so doing, the problems would go away...Let me tell you what happens when a child's yearnings go unheeded or ignored: Confusion..the child becomes confused, like, 'what's wrong?'

...then when the child grows into teen age and becomes rebellious, some feather-brained people open up their mouths to say s/he is possessed with an evil spirit; try casting out the spirit of sadness and sorrow when what needs to be done is 'show some deep love!!!' That love that Jesus instructed us to show to the 'littl'uns' whose unblemished innocence is the ticket to Heaven.

Her twin, Kachi...they are so sweet!

When you are done reading this and while stepping out of your house you encounter a child that's hungry, dirty and/or frustrated, what is your initial reaction going to be?...irritation? impatience? boredom? or would you rather look into those eyes that are now becoming worldly and choose to see in it a reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ reaching out and telling you, 'this is a chance to be like me, take it dear'. Please do away with all manner of religion which is all talk and no action...start practicing the true religion which says 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. helping these children is equal to ministering to God's angels and you know the implication of that.

Think deeply about it hon, whether or not we like it, we are responsible for every unruly child that is out there on the streets or in the pubs, wherever! because this is a generation that contains kids who will become in the next fifteen years, student union presidents; in the next thirty years, members of the House of Reps/Commons etc...

...I hardly think you can relax when you think about all the possibilities that could arise if these children are not given necessary attention...ignoring it might mean that you have actively participated in molding tomorrow's thugs, corrupt politicians and violent student reps...If you've ever read my write-ups, you'll understand that I always like my readers to figure out the problems all on their own. If you are smart enough to do so (of which there is no doubt), you will have the wisdom to solve it. Please, choose above all, True  Religion.

My sweets and I on Xmas day...forgive the 'scissors-hands' will ya?

THE BEGINNING.