The Happy Teens Life

After secondary school, I had this one year of my life that changed everything about my thoughts, perception, the things I accepted and everything that formed my core values. Before that year, I had been through many things that attempted to define my life; I slowly and ignorantly lost my identity and consequently lived a disguised life. It hurt, but I could tell no one; how could I explain that I took myself into one mess, and then another and yet another one. I allowed other people’s mistakes, selfishness and opinions define my own life and I was too afraid to get hold of my life and become responsible for it and sadly, I always became the recipient of the penalties. No other person helped to bear my pain; none could even understand the depth of hurt on my inside. The people I allowed to influence my life, those whose mere opinions I built my life around, they were the people I blamed because I felt they were responsible for all my pain. I felt they owed me so much because it wa...

I remember those days when I went round my neighbourhood sending out informal invitations for “my birthday party" as I called it. If you were the child I invited, you would probably think my parents made a direct IV to you; but truth is - they didn’t. As my birthday drew closer I often thought that to secure new clothes, shoes, gift items and the show of love, I had to do my best to ensure my big day was celebrated. But what was my best? Going round the streets close by and telling the children I could see to get to my home at so so time on the 2nd of August. That was because I knew that once my parents hear that people have been invited, they would stretch out to save the day first by booking the photographer, buying some drinks, cooking, getting new clothes, taking care of my hair if need be and making me fit for the day or should I say the camera. Growing up, I realized how selfish my actions had been, I thought I deserved the Love more than they deserved Understanding; b...

The old books that contained my filthiness, faults, ignorance and shame were opened and I pleaded guilty. I had defaulted big time, and the devil was willing to make me pay for my guilt, He said mercy was far and he brought evidences before me that I could not deny. Indeed, I was guilty; I shunned the love that was shown to me and despised grace, and to such offence, the verdict was damnation. Who would plead mercy for me? the accuser insisted no one would do that, he said I would have to face my verdict and bear my pain but just before I could accept the fate he presented to me that cool evening, another voice spoke to my heart the mercy I first heard was far. Did he (the accuser) not say I deserved nothing but pain, depression, loneliness, regret and mess?  Did he not say there was no mercy for me? This new voice amazingly spoke words of hope to me. He acknowledged that even though I had sinned, my offense was fully paid for a long time ago saying "while you were yet a sin...

We all have our share of good and bad days. The days we jump from our beds with such tenacity and meet the needs we ought to; Our visions glaring and plans executed in enthusiasm and fulfilment. But somehow we also stumble on these days - where nothing seems to work anymore; excitement and passion feels like it's suddenly immersed in cold water and there is no vigor for anything. The days... When the results we get do not commensurate the efforts put in work. When our bank of encouragement is drained because the visions we once saw is blurred and it feels like the energy that was stirred within us is no more. The days we hit frustrations we do not deserve or are plagued with guilt for things we did or did not do Sometimes it takes more than just courage to get through these days. We pray but it's like, nothing is changing, we are patient but each second crushes. Should we dare to think about the friends we thought would never leave us but just did? We rather not t...

The pages of creation reveal the very essence of living. “Let Us make man in Our Image, after Our Likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the Earth.” Who could create us with such good intentions but God.  His thoughts towards us are flawless, undying, full of goodness, but the question is:  how do we know these thoughts when we do not search the Bible - (God’s thoughts, expressed through His Words)? Look at what is exclaimed about us in Psalm 8:4 “What is man, that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him?” Each time I ponder on that scripture, I see affection, concern, sympathy, extravagant love showered on us by God. We have great privileges, abundant promises, direction, all wrapped up in the Word of God, but how do we access these privileges if we do not stay committed to the study of these words and al...