She's my daughter!

"He must have been an angel or how else could I explain my failure to reach Mazi Okeke after almost a year of consistent trials? .." I quizzed myself.

Still on the same matter, "A right attitude wins always". 

It was my third week at the National Youth Orientation Camp (NYSC) at Okigwe, a city in Imo state in South East Nigeria. I rode on a high horse to the camp 😊 flaunting my profile which richly displayed my meritorious achievement as the best graduating student in my set (BSc) Geography and planning department at the University of Lagos. Also, I was a proud recipient of two premium scholarships, one from the prestigious University of Lagos (best student scholarship scheme for two sessions)and the other paid in foreign currency (Dollars) by American International Insurance company (AIICO) where my mum was a celebrated staff. 

Three days before the completion of the camp, I had serious concerns about the poor and shoddy welfare conditions of corps members and decided to take the bull by the horns and seek out a decent job placement. Actually, before I left Lagos, my mother had proactively written and given me a letter soliciting favor for a job opportunity on my behalf from her colleague at their Owerri branch. So I set out that morning for Owerri, dressed in my fitted 'corper' outfit armed with great confidence in my CV and mum's letter. On arrival at AIICO's Owerri branch, to my rude shock, the fresh-faced customer service officer informed me that my mum's colleague (the addressee) had been transferred out of the state and there was no vacant position at that time within the branch. After all my powers of persuasion failed, my vitality was turned into the drought of summer 😬 

Upset, I stood at the bus stop adjacent to the branch observing the indomitable spirit displayed by young men and women selling bottled water in the blazing sunshine. Squaring my shoulders, I braced myself for the next move. I took the initiative to scout around for vacancies within Owerri, visited about seven companies however I was shattered by their loud 'Nos'. I sensed that my CV was even intimidating to some of the employers. One Igbo business man shouted at me after I presented my documents to him " Corper, abeg, leave my company, I don't have enough money to pay you!"

At about 4pm, worryingly, I reasoned it was time to head back to the camp at Okigwe to face the apparent wrath...for the fear of the camp soldiers is the beginning of 'commonsense'. So, I gave up the search lamenting within amidst secret tears 😭 how my mum's letter and my CV betrayed me. 

Exhausted and hungry, I shuffled reluctantly down the road, just a few metres to the Okigwe bus park, suddenly I heard a voice on a call closely behind, before I could turn to check, the stranger appeared abruptly, an elderly man in his early sixties white-haired, wearing the traditional Igbo attire for men  'Isiagu', but remarkably beautiful, if 'beautiful' may be used to describe his charm, his aura of godliness and even his quaint Igbo accent. He ended his call and with a radiant smile, looked into my eyes and politely asked "Corper, how are you doing?"

At that moment, the mixed feelings of frustration, rejection and anxiety of the punishment awaiting me at the camp, all stirred within to voice out simultaneously at the innocent stranger but on a second thought, I reasoned "it would be unfair of me to transfer my frustration on this elderly man who possibly just wanted to be kind to me"'. Immediately, I sensed an unusual energy within, released a soft smile and said "I am okay sir..I'm just tired...been job hunting and it's so frustrating..." I had not finished the sentence when my eyes caught a glimpse of our camp commandant on the pillow of a bike from behind... unexpectedly I started shaking like a fish out of water waiting to be cooked in hot "Ogbono" soup. Astonishingly, I noticed that the camp commandant was distracted by the sight of the elderly man I was chatting with, he stared at him in amazement and shouted "Mazi Okeke!!" .

The elderly man shouted in response  "Dele (not real name)...oh Dele, good to see you again!!!" Both of them hugged each other,  exchanged pleasantries, and chatted for a few minutes, I stood still watching the  movie... hoping for salvation! Shortly afterwards, my camp commandant just waved at me, of course I understood his body language "We will meet at the camp and I need to know what you were doing out there at that time". As he was about to speed off, the elderly man, whom I now know as Mazi Okeke, held my hand and said "Dele, "this is my daughter, please take good care of her...Dele, please take good care of my daughter o!"

The camp commandant surprised at that statement nodded and bowed his head saying " Mazi, your will be done... don't worry your daughter is in safe hands"...and he sped off. 

I took a deep breath, looked at Mazi and said "Thank you sir, you saved me .." surprisingly, the old man was now eager to leave...he didn't even respond to my thank you. Politely, I asked him for his phone number...he gave me a number on a white paper and hurriedly walked away to the next junction. In a split second he was out of sight and I wondered why did he suddenly become hasty and not bother to even ask for my name? Why didn't he continue chatting me since he initiated the conversation? Mysterious!

..And the camp commandant took extra care of me! Fortunately, we boarded the same bus back to Okigwe camp and he gladly paid for my bus-fare. I boldly walked into the camp, chatting with him, proudly enjoying the ticket of his authority and credibility, right in the faces of the furious soldiers who eyed me critically but had to stand at attention saluting their boss... thank God, I was saved from their wrath! Later, the camp commandant told me to see him the next day and tell him where I would love to serve. In the evening, I gladly made out time to seek the Lord, confessed my sin of trusting in my CV and mum's connection and asked Him, what should I say to the camp commandant? The light dawned on me when I heard someone talk about Abia State University at Uturu (ABSU), then I got a witness within me, that's the place! I informed the camp commandant and believe me, in two days, exactly the last day at the camp, I was posted to the institution. I had such a fulfilling time serving at their Post graduate school department, built cordial relationships with staff and lecturers, volunteered as a trainer and mentor to teenage girls on reproductive health and sexuality at Forward Africa, an NGO affiliated with ABSU. I enjoyed friendships with students... the enforced camaraderie of campus life...in fact, I dated one charming Ibo student I fondly called CJ but .... that's a gist for another day. 😂

The life lessons of this experience are not nebulous; 

**Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares...Hebrews 13:2 

Sure, God knows we will encounter wolves, worst still, wolves in sheep's clothing, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16, KJV). 

**I was so puffed up with pride that I thought I could do it my way relying on my CV and mum's connection but they were not enough to secure me what I wanted. The disappointment was just what I needed to straighten my head, become humble and get back to God for the answer. It may interest you to know that though I gave my life to Christ during my Secondary school days I didn't understand the part of surrendering one's plan to the Lord for many years. How I loved my 'independence' to a fault! Getting married at age 25 wasn't in my agenda at all...oh, I was such a stupid nit! God's mercy held me from saying no to my humble King!

Over the years, I learned to surrender all my plans, meritorious achievements,  connections and even my ambition of becoming an outstanding well travelled academician before the throne of grace and follow His plan for my life. 

Thank you Lord for not allowing me to have my way but yours❤️. 

By his grace, I have grown to understand that knowing and walking in God's will for my life is the key to my happiness and prosperity.

**In fact my definition and understanding of "where" to work at that time was outrightly skewed. What I wanted was not what I needed. God came on the scene through Mazi to correct my perspective. Mind you, I tried his number for almost a year while serving at ABSU, but it never connected, I did not set my eyes on Mazi again till date. Mysterious!

** Also, do you know that I could have missed out on God's answer if I had transfered my aggression on Mazi? My warm response though not convenient at that moment positioned me to earn "She's my daughter" from a stranger, recall that even my mother's help had failed me! Thankfully, I reaped an unusual favour from the fat emotional account, Mazi Okeke, had invested into my camp commandant. Be careful how you treat people!

Frankly, I opine that bad attitudes leak God's blessings from our lives. No one wants to stay around a grumpy, moody person who speaks negative words. Attitude is everything! For emphasis, attitude is simply behaving your thoughts. So the root is your thought! You are feeding your mind the food of the things you see, read, hear and experience on a constant basis. Check what you're thinking before it breaks out as words and attitude. 

How significant is your attitude to your works? Remember, the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch because their speech and behavior were like Christ. Joyce Meyer says  "You can preach a better sermon with your action... attitude than with your mouth..."

I believe that throughout our lifetime God will continue to refine our attitudes through his Word and dealings in our lives because no matter how mature we become, there's always room for improvement! 

Consider the words of Mother Theresa to a journalist " You know Michael, my main work is not all this. My concern is my sisters. If they don't have the right spirit and the right approach then all our work is in vain.."

Above all the lessons garnered, the law of timing is key. Mazi came at the right time. God sent Jesus to be our savior about four thousand years after the fall of man, at just the right time. Humanly speaking that was a long time to wait but He came just as predicted and at just the right time. 

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman..." Galatians 4:4.

Truly, God makes all things beautiful in his time. Moreso, Christmas is a time of thanksgiving! God owns everything and He gave everything; His most precious Son, Jesus, the King of Glory who chose not to 'japa' (run away) from His purpose but willingly laid down His life for our redemption. 

Remember this truth that no man can ever out-give God, therefore we can never repay Him...we can never thank Him enough for the most wonderful gift of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ! It's so fulfilling responding to his love, expressing my appreciation through my gifts and serving him extravagantly... gladly 😍😍😍

Let us adore Him, not just at Christmas but every time. 💕🎄👑

Sometimes, even at Christmas it doesn't really feel like Christmas but we can overcome every fear with an attitude of gratitude, thanks to the Holy Spirit, our helper 🙌🙌🙌

Merry Christmas to you!🎄🎄🎄🌲🌲🌲🌲

Yours Sincerely, 

Segilola.