While growing up,I thought people had a certain special feeling as they attained the milestone age of 40.It looked faraway until I found myself moving steadily towards it some months ago.Wow!40.This is great.
Surprisingly, I don't feel differently and I'm sure I don't even look differently. Some people have even told me that I look too young to be 40.Well, this is one of the ironies of my life.While I was growing up, people used to wrongly accuse my mum of deliberately "reducing" my age because I outgrew most of my peers.Ironically, at 40,some persons say I look younger than that age.This can only be God.
At 40, my life is a testimony of God's amazing grace and favour. I grew up believing that I was not talented in anything. Unlike some of my peers, I couldn't draw or sing.My handwriting was at best, average. I wasn't even an athlete.
Though I wasn't a poor student, my record in mathematics was dismal.I used to wonder what my talent was.In fact, I used to think that God was better to others than me until I recently discovered my own special "talents" from the Creator. Little did I know that I was generously endowed with things that far surpassed ordinary talents.
Iam "talented" with divine favour and a burning passion. Taking stock of my life at 40, I see the signature of divine favour everywhere. I have been most favoured by God and I can't pretend or apologize .
He has richly given me everything I ever needed to fulfil purpose. I have never done anything extraordinary to record little or big accomplishments. He has surrounded me with amazing people. People who are willing to take risks for my sake.This has been one of my greatest blessings in life.
From childhood till now, I have never lacked human assistance. I have never wanted to get things done and I lacked willing helpers, partners and supporters.What an awesome God He is.
I had a father who was never afraid of showing preference for me among his ten children. Even as a little boy,I was occasionally scared that my father's open display of affection for me would attract envy in a polygamous home.Mine was somewhat similar to the story of the Biblical Joseph as I was the last of my father's five male children.
God blessed me with the most sacrificial and caring mother anyone can think of.My mum sacrificed everything to send us to school.Dad was a pensioner and the pension was both meagre and inconsistent. Then he passed on in 1996 shortly after I wrote my Senior Secondary Certificate Examination(SSCE).We are all graduates today because a primary school teacher parted with pleasure to secure the future of her children. Her salary wasn't enough.So,she took to farming and frying of akara to complement her meagre salary.
Though I was a considerate and sympathetic son, I couldn't do much to support her farming activities because I wasn't physically very strong. In fact,I hated everything about farming. She didn't like that but she never lost faith in me.I have never seen a mother believe her own son the way my mum has believed in me.She believed I would be successful even when certain indicators gave contrary signals.
Recently, I reminded her of a past incident where she told me "Look, all your mates are capable of doing farm work but you can't" I replied "Mum, tell me that all my mates are doing well in school and I do not". Much as she wanted me to help in the farm, she preferred academic ability. From that day, she never again bothered me much about assisting in the farm.
She had only one ambition --- the education of her children. She was a good example of a senior teacher who dressed worse than her juniors. Many times, the gossips would be reported to her. She would come home to discuss with us without showing any sign of regrets or bitterness. As her salary and proceeds from the sale of akara were not enough, she would go borrowing. Our financial woes were compounded by the fact that she was compelled to return to school for her National Certificate in Education(NCE) because of the rumours that Grade 2 teachers would be retrenched by government.
One of the worst days in my mother's life was the day a certain senior and well placed citizen told her that no teacher could sponsor a child in the University. For the first time, her hope of producing graduates was seemingly shattered. She discussed with me and I assured her I would go to school. I could see hope return to her eyes.
I can't forget those days when everyone slept except my mum.She suffered insomnia because the load was too massive for her slender feminine shoulders.
She would lay there waiting for the cock to crow to wake me up to grind beans for her to fry akara.I hated being woken up in the early hours when my peers were still asleep but I didn't have a choice.What would you eat if you didn't grind?
The God who created me gave me a mum who could go through all that for me.Not every mother goes that length for her children.
He has blessed me with supportive siblings, great friends, amazing wife and lovely kids.He has given me several great young folks who look up to me for mentoring.He has given me platforms of service because that's what He created me for.At 40, I still have a grandmother who is still strong. Is God not wonderful?
Today, I have parents who didn't give birth to me.I have siblings my parents didn't give birth to and I have children I didnt bear. This is the hallmark of my earthly blessings.These excite me more than silver and gold.
With the benefit of hindsight, those experiences were necessary. They taught me discipline, empathy, hope and contentment. They also injected in me the passion to look beyond my personal interests in the pursuits of life.
Iam not yet where I want to be but Iam not where I used to be.Iam not yet wealthy but Iam not stranded.I don't have everything but Iam not under any form of pressure. He has blessed me with contentment.He has helped me realise that success or failure is not a function of what we have or don't have.We only fail if we allow our purpose to be scuttled or derailed. We dont fail when we pursue His purpose for us.
My second "talent" is passion. My life is driven by a passion that keeps me constantly on my toes.Without training and experience in certain areas, passion has helped me record certain modest accomplishments. He has blessed me with passion for service.He has taught me not to labour for achievements which cannot stand the test of time.
I don't want to labour for houses, cars, clothes,power etc.I want to labour for impact which will transcend generations. I want to be one of His channels of blessings to my generation.I want to be remembered as a servant of God and humanity. Not a wealthy or powerful man.Nobody should assess my life by belongings and acquisitions. That's why my only regret at 40 is the lovely people I lost early to death.I have no regrets about accomplishments. I do not compare myself with anyone because I don't share destiny or purpose with any.That's why I don't envy.
My appointment as Secretary, Oro Think Tank on the verge of my 40th birthday is not an accident. That role is in line with my life's purpose and passion.Because He has called me to serve, I have never lobbied for an opportunity to render service. He will always give you platforms in the areas of your purpose and passion. You don't need to struggle.
Iam grateful to Oro leaders and elders who despite not knowing my father repose so much confidence in me.They've graciously under God taken upon themselves the task of helping me grow by offering me positions I may not be very competent for.I have learnt a lot working closely with elders and leaders.This is nothing but God.
On this day, Iam very grateful to God for preserving me through connection with the ministry of His anointed servant, Rev. Ntia I. Ntia. I can't be so foolish that I become oblivious of the source of my blessings. There's nothing I have which was not given by God through human agents.
"For who makes you different from anyone else?What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 CORINTHIANS 4:7.
"For promotion cometh neither from the east,nor from the west, nor from the south.But God is the Judge...." PSALM 75:6-7.
Having come this far, and with all I have experienced, I no longer have the luxury of doubting God.He already knows my end.Before He created me,He had settled the purpose and outcome of my life.JEREMIAH 1:5.
I can only ask Him to teach me from my heart to say always that His will be done. "...For I know whom I have believed, and Iam convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day" 2 TIMOTHY 1:12.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. For "Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." PSALM 20:7.
It can only get better for "... the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" PROVERBS 4:18.
I belong to a covenant heritage that forbids a better yesterday than today.
The most important favour you can do me on this day is to help me thank God for making something out of nothing; for making a nobody look like somebody. Help me thank God for shielding my life with His favour and for not allowing investments in my life to be wasted.
LORD,IT'S YOU AND NO ONE ELSE.
Omen Bassey.
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