APPRECIATE PLATFORMS

It was the last Saturday of January in 2007. I was visiting with my aunt. She said to me, “Temi, there is a ten-minute session in teens church called ‘tits and bits’. We would be glad if you could share for ten minutes tomorrow”. I agreed.

I stayed in the place of prayer. I shared that Sunday on “The Story of Joseph and Mine”. When I stopped after ten minutes. The beloved teenagers asked that I should continue. Though their request was not granted, I got the opportunity to be invited to the annual teenager’s camp.

That opportunity in 2007 has never left me. I am always grateful to my aunt and those teachers who took a chance on that young undergraduate.  I have been speaking in that teen’s camp every year ever since. It is a place of memorial for me. Some of the teens of those years have become fathers and mothers.

I do not take that place for granted. No matter what, I do all I can to honour those who gave me that chance and the relationships that flow out of there. At the same time, I appreciate every opportunity to be a blessing to them.

Beloved, appreciate those who allowed you to shine. There are platforms you got when you did not even know what you were doing.  Be grateful for those who took a “gamble” on you. Never take it for granted. 

Some men become big and then abuse those who gave them a chance. There are people in my life that no matter how they behave, I keep seeing them in the light of the opportunities they gave me.

Think about David. He did it for the elders who were his friends. He shared his blessings with them.

1 Samuel 30:26-31 NIV

[26] When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the Lord’s enemies.” [27] David sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; [28] to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa [29] and Rakal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; [30] to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak [31] and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.

You may think the names of those places were irrelevant. No! They are not. They are markers of your journey. There are people I pastored in Eruwa ten years ago who still are grateful to date. They had platforms to grow.

He also did for his friend, Jonathan and his family.

2 Samuel 9:1 NIV

[1] David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

Even when Saul changed his behaviour, David still called him “Father”. He called him great names. He honoured those who honoured King Saul in death.

2 Samuel 2:4-7 KJV

[4] And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-Gilead were they that buried Saul. [5] And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. [6] And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will require you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. [7] Therefore now let your hands be strengthened and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

May we not be plagued by forgetfulness. It always gives birth to ingratitude. Be grateful.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa