Saturday, September 13, 2008

The Race

I want to say a big Thank You to Blogville. You all were so wonderful during my Sept. 11 memorial. Just to let you know that you made it a joyful memorial. I felt love from above and from almost every part of the world. I will print out your comments and share with my family members. God bless you.

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The Race
I was on my way to see Guy. I had been missing him all the while his girlfriend was around. Now she had gone, I had to seize the opportunity to be with him. I had plans on my mind. I felt excited but deep down, I felt a pang of sadness. Because I was second best. I had settled for it because it seemed I had no other choice. What I really wanted was not just to be a “first best”, but a “one-and-only”.

I took a walk down to Guy’s house to kill two birds with one stone. First to exercise and secondly to think. I was enjoying my walk and thoughts when I got distracted by a group of children playing. One that particularly caught my attention was a little boy, dirty looking, thick catarrh running down his nose, no pant, spots and rashes all over his body, and with a bent leg. I love children but I could not see myself touching this child. Let’s call him Sboy. He was persistently flogging another boy, probably an elder brother. Let’s call this other one Bboy.

Then one of the children suggested they have a race to get to the end of the road and back. Trust children, anything to run around and disturb. They all bought into the idea. On your marks…set…go…and all the children ran off with the speed of light. Except Sboy (who could not run) and Bboy. This is where I had to stop walking and watch.

Sboy reached out to Bboy and asked to be carried for the race. Bboy reached out and took the cane from Sboy’s hand. In my mind I said, “This is time to flog Sboy back”. Bboy dropped the cane aside, carried heavy Sboy on his back, and joined in the race. Of course, the other children were on their way back while Bboy and Sboy had only gone halfway. Together, Bboy and Sboy completed the race. We know who took last.

To me, Bboy was the winner of the race. That was love, forgiveness, grace and help he had ministered. Three tear drops slid down cheek.

As I turned to continue my walk, it dawned on me that Bboy just enlightened me on the relationship between God/Jesus and man. Like Sboy, we are not perfect and we commit sins, sometimes without a conscience. Yet God forgives us and completely forgets what we did. Despite our flaws and imperfections, He loves us and accepts us for who we are. When we reach out to him, He receives us with open arms. And then, it does not matter when others get the things/to the place we desire. As long as we are with God, we will get there, victorious, using less effort, at His appointed time, and finish well. He will bring us to an expected end.

See me fighting for first and second best, when there was someone who loved me more than anything or anyone. By the time I had reached Guy’s house, I had a different thought on my mind. Enough of second best.

“Guy, I just came to tell you I’m going back home. There is someone there waiting for me. I just realized He loves me so much.”
Guy thought I was being funny. But after I explained everything to him (as logically as possible), he understood. He let me go, knowing he did not love me as much as God loved me.

That happened years ago. Today, I am a “One and Only”.

28 comments:

Red Sapphire said...

Nice story....

Red Sapphire said...

Hey Rita...i am sure i will add a more detailed comment later...i am still tryin to decide whether to run or stay...

bArOquE said...

...quite touching story...SBoy et al

Buttercup said...

awwwwwwwww...i always get touched when i come here!

im so happy u told Guy n im also happy u r now a “One and Only”!

Emilia said...

Girl you got talent.Lovely story but dear why do women settle for second best or even third best at times while few man would settle for that. I am glad you came to your senses that´s all.
we are forgiven as we should forgive 7x77 times that marvelous....

Rita said...

@Red Sapphire: Run or to stay away from the blog (smile), still expecting the detailed comment and we’d probably talk offline…

@bArOque: This rAnDom case for ur name, it was hard to type oh! Thanks for your comment. Bboy really touched me.
Still tripped by ur "Not Even God is Ripe Enough..."

@Buttercup: Was wondering where you’ve been…hope you’re doing good…Didn’t know the stories touch you.
I thank God that Guy understood so there was no animosity. It is really nice to be a “One and Only” No sleepless nights!

@Emilia: As of the time I was settling for second best, it was because I had a low self-esteem. When I began to love and appreciate myself, I found out that other people loved and respected me. I really won’t know the reason why other women would settle as/for second best.

Sometimes, I think the ability to truly forgive is a gift…Not everyone has that gift.

Reverence said...

awesome!

Rebirth said...

its amazing how daily occurences we stop to observe can shed so much more light on how God loves us............

Emilia said...

Self esteem issues that´s the key really it says it all... Like I said before I am glad you love yourself now and you are number one to yourself and obviously to others too.

Sometimes I wonder if we are treated by people by the way we portray ourselves to them. Like Guy he probably sensed the low self esteem thing and took advantage of it but when you gained self esteem and said "NO" he backed off...Is that so we are the ones tell them how far to go, right?
Take care, Rita!

aloted said...

this is an amazing story..

God uses everyday happenings to teach us of his love for us...

i am glad u moved on and that u r now "one and only" :)

Afrobabe said...

congrats babes...it takes courage and more strenght than people know to let go...

Anonymous said...

I know how incredibly difficult it is to let go. I am glad for your strength. I just hope all girls can learn this.

Rita said...

@Reverence: Thanks lady. How are you doing? Feeling better? Has the storm passed over?

@Funms: Truly amazing…there are several ways God tries to speak to us…


@Emilia: I agree with you we are treated by people by the way we portray ourselves to them.

@Aloted: It was not easy oh, but I’m glad I did…

@Afrobabe: The strength needed is plenty oh…to think of what one would miss when the future seems bleak. Thank you. What will you have advised me then?

@Temite: You just made me feel like you were there with me to help me bear the burden of letting go. Thanks dear. I too learnt from my own experience – that we can actually survive if we let go.

Smaragd said...

deep...

Flourishing Florida said...

dis is very inspirational. thanks dear.

Afrobabe said...

I would have adviced you to do exactly what you did...but you see love causes blindness and that is where strenght comes in...cos the strenght to actually do what you are being advised to do which is contrary to what your heart wants is something only you can determine you have....

ok..not sure I made sense here..

basically, ur mind would have to fight with your heart....

Lindah said...

Brilliant story. Thanks for sharing.

Azuka said...

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

olusimeon said...

deep and lovely..i'll rather be last like sboy, than be first without God..
your own one and only is on his way to you..good thing u left guy..

Rita said...

@Esmeralda: You really think so? Thank you.

@Free-flowing Florida: You’re so welcome.

@Afrobabe: LOL, you made a lot of sense…I don’t know why there is this constant battle between heart and mind…

@Lindah: Thank you. You’re welcome.

@Azuka: Thank you. Your last post was sooo funny.

@Simeoneomobaba: hmmm…I really like your words on…”First without God…” Very inspiring. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hmm..u have no idea of how much this writeup meant to me...lessons shared often go a long way..thanks girl...Keep doing ur thing....Godspeed!

Rita said...

@Modupe: Thank you. The way you have encouraged me all these years...only God can repay you...

Parakeet said...

Double wows...I talk am Rita, you're inspiring. I did just that before coming to read your blog so I guess this is God's way of telling me that I did the right thing. Amen to that.

rethots said...

...beautifully written.

Once we realise we ought not be in competition with no one, it becomes so much easier to enjoy living.

wellsbaba said...

great story...I see such experiences as a work of art...simple day2day stuff with deep meanings or messages....plus your delivery was also touching....

Rita said...

@Parakeet: Amen too.

@Rethots: I just like this part on competition. Very eye opening.

@Wellsbaba: Thanks oh. I have learnt a lot from life and things happening around me.

Anonymous said...

You are one of the people that truly gets it! That relationship we have with God. You get it dear friend.

Rita said...

@Abbie: Thank you. It took some lessons though...:-)