Grandpa's Place

12/04/2018

"FOR MY SAKE"
©Opeyemi Akintunde

It was my wedding night. I was so tired, I needed a bath and a rest. We had danced so much my back was aching.

My husband was beginning to have funny ideas 😘. He was beaming like a new born baby, 😍😍😍.

Well, I wouldn't blame him; any man in his position would not joke with this night because I was a warrior during our courtship".

No... no hugging, no pecking, no holding 🙅‍♀". Sexual purity till my marriage was top on my list.

The Knock came. I was thinking, half past eleven (11:30pm). Is that room service, I wondered. Then, with eyes popping 🧐, I heard my mother in-law's iron like voice: "Tise, Micheal, open the door". Micheal jumped up from the bed, rushed to the door and opened it for his mum. My Mother in-law walked in, sat down majestically and asked us to sit down too.

"Tise, I don't know if anyone ever told you? There is a curse on my husband's family line.

The men in their family don't prosper, their wives are the ones who work, and provide for their families.

This is because, according to the story that I was told, one of their forefathers killed the only son of a great herbalist and the herbalist placed a curse on every son in their lineage, that their hands will never produce nor bring forth anything goo also, their sons must always lose a son amongst their children"

🙆‍♀ I watched in amazement as my mother in-law kept telling the story. Then, she concluded by saying: "In essence, I have just come to let you know that your marriage is not a land of funs but of war"

😳 Why? Why didn't she tell me this before now?

Well, in order not to waste her time, I also gave her my history. 🗣

"Mum, I am sorry, I also did not tell you this before now. I came from a family that fights for those we love. My Father (Jesus' Christ) actually died while trying to save his people. My family line does not operate under curses because we are operating under a covenant of blessings 🍇. Therefore, anyone who is fortunate to marry any one in my family becomes automatically fortunate. So mum, for my sake, your son can not operate under that curse again".

My mother in-law was shocked to say the least, as I could tell what she was thinking. Then, it made sense to me. My Sisters in-law always had this gloomy look on their faces and the two of them actually lost their sons.

"Mum, you need to go and rest. My husband and I need to produce two sons this night because in my family line we conceive immediately our husbands meet us.

My mother in-law stood up with caution and silently walked out.

At that moment, all the tiredness vanished as I took Michael's hand and looked him straight in the eye.

"Listen, I don't care what you or your ancestors have done, but for my sake, you will prosper with this hand.

Listen, Paul and some criminals were on a ship and there was a shipwreck.

The soldiers wanted to kill all the criminals to prevent them from escaping, but the Army officer stopped them for the sake of saving Paul.

Micheal, for Paul's sake, the lives of other criminals were preserved. So sweetheart, because you are married to me, because we are in the same ship, yes, this relationship called marriage, for my sake, you cannot be punished for your ancestors' sin."

That became my prayer plea to God from that day forward. I kept praying to God to save my husband, my sons for my sake.

To the Glory of God, I have 4 sons 👱‍♂👱‍♂👱‍♂👱‍♂. None of them died. Now, they have sons and daughters of their own.

For my sake, my husband's destiny changed for the best.

Dear reader, it is time to pray to God to save your family and those around you because you are in their lives.

However, before God can honour that request, ensure that you are a friend of God. Paul was not an ordinary person or a sinner, he was a friend of God.

Pray:
*Lord, for my sake, save my loved ones and those around me.
*Make me an asset in the lives of those around me in Jesus' mighty name.

*Make my presence in people's lives preserve me and them in Jesus' mighty name.

God bless you 🙏.
Thank you for reading and feel free to share.

Acts 27:39-44.

Shalom.

15/02/2018

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel Tracts.

This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside, as well as pouring rain.

The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready.'

His Pastor dad asked, 'Ready for what?'

'Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out.'

Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'

The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?'

Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.'

Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go? Please?'

His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful son..'

'Thanks Dad!'

And with that, he was off and out into the rain.. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract .

After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST TRACT. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered.

He rang it again and again, but still no one answered.. He waited but still no answer.

Finally, this eleven year old trooper turned to leave, but something stopped him.

Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!

He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.

Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?' With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that * JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU * and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell you all about JESUS and His great LOVE.'

With that, he handed her his last tract and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'

Well, the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service began, he asked, 'Does anybody have testimony or want to say anything?'

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.

As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face, 'No one in this church knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.

So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.'

I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly...

I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be?

Nobody ever

rings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.

When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you!

The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU .'

Then he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand..

As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

You see-- -I am now a Happy Child of the KING. Since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell..'

There was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated....

He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Probably no church has had a more glorious moment, and probably this universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor for his son.... Except for One.

Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.

Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heaven is for His people!

Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.

Please share this wonderful message...

If you love JESUS, please forward this message.

Spread His word, and share His goodness and faithfulness.

Matthew 10:32 says:

'Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven

12/02/2018

12/02/2018

10/02/2018

01/02/2018

[31/01 8:31 pm] Funke B 3: Parents and children learn from each other.

How does the learning happen?

In both scenarios (Amaka and Ades'), the principle of learning are the same.

*Learning occurs because of a payoff.*

We behave (do things) to earn a payoff (what we want).

So what's the payoff?

Amaka's behaviour was a tantrum. Her payoff was the sweet and winning over mom. Which means her payoff was also power and control.

In Amaka's scenario, mom's behaviour was giving in and giving Amaka the sweet. Her payoff was a few minutes of peace and no further embarrassment.

Everyone got what they wanted.

So what could be wrong? The method! How?

Amaka got what she wanted by kicking and screaming and crying and shouting.

Mom got what she wanted by giving her authority to her child.

Amaka is only 4... If she is so demanding and getting on at 4, what will she be like at 14?!
[31/01 8:31 pm] Funke B 3: Now let's consider Ade.

Ade's behaviour was ignoring dad's request.
His payoff was having his way a little longer.

At first, dad's behaviour was to threaten and do nothing.

Once he was angry, his behaviour was to get the cane. His payoff was that Are became quiet. The cane was some immediate payoff- but not effective in the long running.

What do we see?

Ade isn't learning to be obedient. He is not learning to cooperate. He is not learning internal control and internal motivation. So what is he learning?

He is learning that he only has to obey when the cane is out.

If Ade is like most children, soon, he forgets the cane and misbehaves again. Then, dad goes thru his threats again. The cycle may never end...
[31/01 8:31 pm] Funke B 3: So what to do???

If your child misbehaves frequently, *it means he has not learned appropriate methods of getting what he wants.*

Think about your child's payoff. What is it? What does he hope to gain by his misbehavoiur? Figure it out and *do not give in*

When we understand payoffs, it helps us to make changes in the way we discipline our children.

So think about your child's misbehavoiur.
🎯What's the payoff?
🎯Does he get his way? 🎯Does he succeed in getting you angry and upset?
🎯Does he manage to avoid doing what you asked?

*Once you understand payoffs, you have your first new discipline tool.*

Determine your own payoff to.
⚠What makes you react the way you do?
⚠Do you give in to avoid a hassle?
⚠Are you afraid of what your child might do if you do not give in?

If you want your child's behaviour to change, you need to take a honest look at yours.

30/01/2018

REMOVE THE LABEL

​​
I sat in my chair quietly next to my Mom and Dad as my grade 4 teacher gave them an update on my progress at school.

“your child is a slow learner” said the school teacher quietly.

I held my breath and sank a little lower into my chair. I looked up at my dad to see if he was in trouble. My father glanced down, smiled and gave me a quick wink.

On the way home from the Parent-Teacher meeting, I thought about what Mrs. Shastri had called me – ‘Slow Learner’. Deep down I knew that what she really meant was that I was dumb.

Later that evening, my Mom and Dad came into my room carrying a piece of paper and a pen.

They sat down on the side of the bed and said, “Want to talk to you about what Mrs. Shastri said today.”

“A Slow Learner” I replied.
I had already taken the words to heart.

“That’s right” said my dad as my mother wrote the words ‘Slow Learner’ on the piece of paper.

My parents then held up the piece of paper in front me and purposefully tore it into two.

My eyes widened in surprise.

“Mrs. Shastri was wrong” said my parents as they continued to tear the paper into smaller and smaller pieces.

“You’re not a slow learner.”

“I’m not?”

“No and starting tomorrow, you and we are going to show that Mrs. Shastri was wrong, OK?”

“OK” I hugged my mom, snuggled down into my pillow and fell asleep with a smile on my face and a warm glow in my heart.

From that day on, my parents spent one hour per day helping me with my reading and writing. By the end of the year, I was doing much better at school and interestingly no one ever labeled me a ‘Slow Learner’ again.

My parents knew that when a child receives a label from a person in authority such as a teacher or parent, they often take that label to heart and it becomes a part of their self-identity for the rest of their lives.

To avoid this from happening to their child, my parents created a tangible representation of the ‘Slow Learner’ label and tore it up it in front of me so that the label would not become a part of child’s self-concept.

Today I would like to thank my Mom and Dad.

Think about the labels that people have given to you, your kids in the past and at present.

Perhaps you were given a label by one of your parents, your teacher, your spouse or your boss. What is the label that resonates in your mind???

Is there a label that has become part of your identity because a person in a position of authority gave it to you???

If so, write this label down on a blank sheet of paper and hold it up to see it for what it really is – A Label.

It is a label – nothing more. It is not part of you and you do not have to accept it as part of your identity any longer.

As you begin to see the label for what it really is – Rip it in half and enjoy the feeling of destroying the label once and for all.

When you do this exercise, you will feel a surge of motivation to take action to ensure that no one attempts to give you this label again in the future.

Just as my parents took action and helped me with my school work, make sure you follow through and do whatever you need to do to eliminate the remnants of the label from your life forever.

A teacher's / a Parent's purpose is not to create children in his own image, but to develop children who can create their own image .

25/01/2018

I got this from someone this morning, hmmmm we need to b careful

I wish to express my anger and total disappointment in some Parents.

How can a parent drop a child off at school without running a proper check on uniform, shoes and content of the bag?
How?

I'm totally disappointed in the kind of mothers we have today.

A child came to school with scorpion in her shoes. Yes you heard me right!!! "Scorpion in her shoes". This happened in the class before mine.

This child is Just in year 1 (grade 1/primary 1). She came to school in tears,and was dragged down from the car all the way to class by her mum. The mother refused to offer any reasonable explanation and only said "don't mind her, she is being naughty, she doesn't want to come to school and is only using leg pain as an excuse".
In class, this child kept screaming at intervals while crying uncontrollably. She didn't participate in the drills as she came a little bit late. She didn't even touch her test paper either, she kept on screaming while her classmates chanted the usual anthem, "you'll be fine,sorry,you'll be fine". It was time for tea break, she let out another scream,this time stamping her feet on the floor, scattering everything placed on the table in front of her. Her teacher asked what the problem was and she said her leg. The teacher beckoned on her to come, but noticed she couldn't move and her leg was stretched out,looking stiff. The teacher walked over to her and told her to point to the exact place but the child just kept crying and said her shoes. Well the teacher had to take her shoes off and tapped it on the floor, turning it upside down probably to get Sand out of the shoes or something.

My dear friends, it wasn't sand, no it wasn't, it was a black Scorpion that fell out of the shoe.
The shock!
The fear!

The other children didn't even know what it was, but were smart to obey their teacher as she screamed at them to run out of class. The teacher mustered courage and hit the Scorpion while screaming for help. The cleaners rushed in and made sure that the Scorpion was dead. The school rang the mum to come over, because this is obviously not a case of Panadol or Paracetamol. The child had to be cut up and fast too but not without the consent of her mother. Her eyes had changed and were blood shot. The spot where the Scorpion stung (only God in heaven knows how many times) had turned black, I mean black! The leg was already stiff, Kai my brothers and sisters with what my eyes saw today, that child was in pains. Her mother came and they had to cut the spot open first before taking her to the hospital.

My question still remains how could a mother be this careless? This isn't about whether the woman is a dirty woman at home or not. How can you ignore the complains of your own child without running proper checks to ensure that the child is fine and just being Crankie.

How dear mum? How?
I pray Zara survives it, I pray she gets better, God please for the sake of those little ones that held hands and prayed today, please answer us, I beg of thee. This child is just in Grade 1 (primary 1)

I'm really sad! I'm tagging some parents to this. Please be more observant and pay more attention. I beg you all please.

~Adiela.

(Copied)

*NB*:
_Let's all make a habit of thoroughly checking our shoes out before wear it._

20/01/2018