Saturday, 26 August 2023

"The Broken Crayons"

 




 

THE BROKEN CRAYONS

 

A little boy from a wealthy family had so many old and broken crayons. At some point, he realized he didn't need them any longer. So, he told his mother.

"Mum, I want all my broken crayons discarded. They are useless and make my bedroom look very messy"

The rich mother would do everything for her kid, so she packed all the broken crayons into a box and threw them out.

The following day, she saw her son in a sulky mood. She asked him.

"What's wrong with you, son?"

The little boy responded.

"I no longer like the smell of the air fresheners and fragrance oil in my room. Can we throw them all out? They make me want to puke"

The mother didn't seem to have a problem with that. She gathered all the bottles of the fragrances and disposed of them. Later on, she bought new scents for her son.

One evening, the mother was driving her son home from the grocery store. As they drove along the road, the boy looked through the car window and saw something very astounding. He saw a poor boy selling some very colourful candles which he called 'the heavenly candles'. One of the candles was burning very brightly and emitting pleasant scents that filled the air. A lot of people gathered to admire and price the expensive and unique candles sold by a poor boy.

At that moment, the rich kid stopped his mother.

"Mum, look! The candles are very nice and lovely. They would make my bedroom look and smell very exceptional. Please buy for me"

The mother wanted to make her son happy. But as they alighted from the car and approached the candle boy, he said.

"I'm sorry ma'am, there are no more left"

All the candles had been sold out already. The rich boy's face fell in disappointed. When his mother noticed his sad expression, she asked the candle boy.

"Where did you buy those special candles? I would like to buy for my son?"

The candle boy replied humbly.

"I didn't buy them. I made them all by myself"

She was very surprised and she inquired.

"But how were you able to make such wonderful candles all by yourself? What materials did you use?"

The boy paused for a moment and said.

"I once saw a woman throw away a box of broken crayons. I was happy and I took them all. Then the next day, I found some bottles of fragrances in the same waste bin the woman discarded the crayons. I took them home as well. I melted all the broken crayons and mixed the wax with some fragrances. It was with the mixture that I created those heavenly candles".

 

Don't be upset when people reject or look down on you like the broken crayons. In actual fact, they just can't see your hidden potential. Stay focused and positive, and allow time change everything about you. Just like the abandoned broken crayons which later on, turned out to become very amazing candles admired by everyone including the one who rejected them. However, he didn't get another chance to own them. Always have hope for a better tomorrow.

Author:    Chima Dickson



























 





















 

Saturday, 19 August 2023

Turn on the Lights you switched off

 




 
Turn on the Lights you switched off

 

Yesterday I visited a friend of mine, who is blind. And because it was night he did something that taught me a lesson.

Upon entering the house, he switched on the light.

And I asked him "why did you put on the light yet you can't see?"

He laughed for a long time, switched off the light and went to the kitchen.

After a short while he came with a pot of tea and eggs, placed them perfectly well on the table and switched on the light again.

What he said made me shed tears because he said to me, Mr. G ..... “I did not put on the light for my own sake or because I needed it, I did it for you because you needed it since you are not blind like me".”

Then he asked me, Mr. G,

How many times have you switched off the light for other people and denied them an opportunity to see light just because you yourself do not need it ?

I thought about that so deeply, and now I am asking you the same question today.

How many times have you put off your lights and denied others an opportunity to see the light while they are in darkness?

 

Why would you let your accounts grow to millions and even billions while your brother's child is going barefooted?

Why would you put clothes you don't wear in the bin while someone out there is almost going naked?

Why would food rot in your house while there is someone out there sleeping hungry?

Why will you see a business opportunity and hide it without sharing with your friends when you know you won’t use it?

Why will you be in a position to help someone get a promotion or a new job and you keep it because the person is not from your family, tribe or religion?

Why will you defame your brother or sister just because you don't want someone to help them?

 

Each of the questions above is equivalent to switching “Off The Light”

These are the things we should be mindful of as human beings.

This is true religion, helping the needy and being there for those who do not have a voice.

Please turn on the lights you switched Off !




 




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