Here is the front cover of our new publication. CHOOSE TO BE DIFFERENT. Read and be transformed

KNOWN FOR WHAT?

A woman travelled outside Nigeria for a short holiday, but still went out of her way to get some gifts for her extended family with the house-helps not left out of the largesse. According to her, she learnt this from one of her aunts whom whenever she travelled abroad would always bring gifts for them when they were young. The gifts may be small but it would be durable and it would always go round. That was one of the things her aunt was known for.

On the other hand, there was this young lady that I met some time ago who shared a bit of her past with me. According to her, there was this ‘big aunty’ who lived in her neighbourhood who introduced her to wild life. She said regrettably that in her hay days, this big aunty would take her out to parties, clubs and of course introduce her to men. 

Before long, she became pregnant for one of the men who later took to his heels and left her with the responsibility of nursing the child. While recounting her wayward lifestyle which she felt was enjoyment then, the role the big aunty played came vividly into the big picture of her past. Unfortunately, the big aunty was not around to help. Her situation became pathetic because she did know where exactly her life was heading to, but God came to her rescue when she came to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What are we known for? A rebel or conformist; a lover of peace or troublemaker; a model or atypical! What are we actually living for? Do we rejoice in evil or we are always out to do good and make sure that others who are down or lowly are lifted because of the wonderful roles we played in their lives.

In the real sense of it, are we known for virtue or vice? For instance, some people are known to always give gifts that are not good to others. Someone told me of a woman who specializes in giving stale bread, expired milk etc to people who come to her home on a visit or for one thing or the other. She is so good at this that people attested to it. Of what use is a gift that has no use!

For some of us, our second name is arrogance. Nobody can satisfy us as we see ourselves as the best and others as ignoramus. So much pride is in us that we never appreciate others and the sterling qualities that make them unique. We are too high to reckon with the lowly in our classes, campuses, organizations, families and communities. 

For some of us, the words of our mouths betray us. By the time we make just two sentences, our speech betray us as pride is lined up in the sentences. Apart from pride, some of us pull down others easily by what we say. What a fruitless life! That life is fruitless because God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble.

What of some of us who are gossips. No information flies around without our knowledge; in actual fact, some of us play God as we want others to know that we had the news about a person, event etc before anyone else. We call these people, information without wire. It is bad that many people have associated some of us with this vice; it is even worse that some of us take pride in this depravity. The book of proverbs says, the talk of the lips tend to penury. You know what? A gossip will not be paid a dime for his/her gossip business; the least level of appreciation open to that fellow is thank you from an ungrateful heart!

What are you known for? This is a pertinent question we must ask ourselves. Of what use is a life that cannot influence others positively. Of what use is a life that is associated with laziness alone without any remorse from the culprit.

Young people should be known for their zeal which cannot be traded for anything because that is their season of strength. Apostle John said, I write to you young men because you are strong. Let us arise as builders and channel our strength towards upbeat tasks.   

Enough of playing into the gallery; our virtues will bring more people to our savior and transform many from bad to good. Let us be known as young leaders who brought light into a dark world.