THE FOUR YOUNG BOYS AND THE LITTLE BIRD

As a young boy, we enjoyed growing up in a small town. It was a developing area so we were surrounded by trees. It was compulsory to wear rain boots once it is 7 pm. Why? We had quite some snakes in the neighbourhood.

I grew up with Ayodele, now a medical doctor; Kayode, who is now in the Medical Engienering space. We had some fun memories. Let me share one:

One day, Kayode caught a bird alive. He was the most adventurous of us all. We played with the bird for a while. We decided to leave the bird in a small cage in front of Kayode’s house while we went on to do other things in Ayodele’s house.

By the time we returned, Kayode’s younger brother, Gbenga had taken the bird from the cage. He kept insisting that the bird was his. He caught the bird in the cage. Ah! Who catches a bird in the cage? We kept it there. He refused. We kept arguing.

Fortunately, a veteran in the faith, Papa Mike Oye (He is now 82 years old), drove in that evening and met four young boys arguing about the ownership of a tiny bird. He stepped in to solve the matter. Gbenga kept insisting it was his bird.

Papa applied wisdom. He told Gbenga to at least hand over the bird to him first and then he can determine who owns the bird. After hesitating for a while, Gbenga opened his hands and stretched the bird to Papa.

The argument ended. Why? The bird we were fighting over was already dead. While Gbenga was insisting that it was his own, he did not realise that he was squeezing the life out of it. We were all sad.

Friends, what is your stubbornness or pride killing in your hands yet you do not realise it? What is the Lord asking for that you have refused to let go? Are there things you think you are keeping but you are actually losing?

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” (Matthew 16:24-26 MSG)

No matter how much you need to carry in a car, you leave the driver’s seat empty. I know you have quite some issues to battle but can you leave the driver’s seat of your heart for Jesus at least? Let him take care of all your cares and worries. Trust His leadership.

Let go of your marriage to Jesus. Do not let your hurt, pain, unforgiving attitude, pride and ignorance squeeze the life out of it. Nothing dies in the hands or the presence of the saviour.  He is the resurrection and the life. Even the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus could not die before him. Jesus died first. Nothing dies in his presence.

Listen! If Jesus is not alive in your life, marriage and home, things will begin to die. Your flames of prayer are dying. Your flames of love and selflessness are dying. Once you think you can handle it yourself, you will begin to lose it all. Hand it over to him.

“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23 NKJV)

Let the one who knows you through and through become the manager of your life. Let him order your steps into His plans and purposes for you. There is more to your life than you can see now.

With God, you can put all your eggs in one basket. You can trust Him completely. Your eggs will not break. and even if it breaks in His hands, it is not death, it is because a new life is about to emerge. Will you trust God enough and let go today? Stop squeezing the life out of what you desire to see alive!

Do not live in regret. A regret is a form of wisdom that now lacks opportunity for expression. It comes out in words like “Had I known”, “If I get another chance” or “I wish I can start all over again”. Hand it all over. You have another chance for a new beginning in Christ. You are not late. It is not too late!

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa.