🎵Just as I am🎶- Charlotte Elliott

 She was an invalid who felt useless to God. From her sickbed, she wrote one hymn in 1835. Billy Graham used it to convert millions—and never knew her name.

This was 1822. Charlotte Elliott was 33 years old, lying in bed in Brighton, England, battling chronic illness that had stolen her strength, her independence, her future.

She was angry. Angry at God for the illness. Angry at herself for being useless. Angry that everyone around her was serving God while she could barely leave her room.

Then a Swiss evangelist named César Malan visited her family's home. And in one conversation, he gave her the answer that would echo through two centuries.

Charlotte Elliott was born March 18, 1789, in Clapham, England, to a well-connected family. Her grandfather was Henry Venn, a prominent evangelical minister. Her father was a respected merchant. She grew up in comfort, education, privilege.

As a young woman, Charlotte was talented, artistic, witty. She wrote poetry. She painted portraits. She was known in Brighton society as charming and clever.

Then, in her early thirties, illness struck.

The exact diagnosis is unclear—accounts mention something like chronic fatigue, possibly what we'd now call ME/CFS or another debilitating condition. What's certain is that Charlotte became an invalid, confined to bed or couch for most of her remaining 49 years.

The physical limitations were devastating. But worse was the spiritual torment.

Charlotte looked around and saw everyone doing important work for God. Her brother Henry was an Anglican clergyman. Her sister-in-law organized charity bazaars. Her friends visited the poor and taught Sunday school.

And Charlotte could barely get out of bed.

She felt useless. Worse than useless—a burden. What could someone trapped in a sickbed possibly offer God?

In 1822, Dr. César Malan, a Swiss Reformed minister and evangelist, visited the Elliott family in Brighton. He was passionate, articulate, and deeply committed to personal conversion experiences.

One evening, Charlotte found herself in conversation with him. She was struggling spiritually—wrestling with doubt, anger, feelings of worthlessness.

"How can I come to God?" she asked him. "I have nothing to bring. I can do nothing for Him."

Malan's answer was simple: "Come to Him just as you are."

Just as you are. Not when you're better. Not when you're useful. Not when you have something to offer. Now. As you are. Sick, angry, doubtful, useless.

God wants you anyway.

The words struck Charlotte deeply. Not immediately—she continued struggling for months. But slowly, the truth settled into her soul.

God didn't need her productivity. He wanted her.

Thirteen years later, in 1835, Charlotte was still an invalid. Still mostly bedridden. Still unable to do the active ministry work she wished she could do.

Her brother Henry was organizing a charity bazaar to raise money for a school for daughters of poor clergy. Everyone in the family was helping—planning, organizing, setting up tables, preparing items to sell.

Everyone except Charlotte, who lay in her room, unable to help.

The old feelings of uselessness returned. What good was she? What could she contribute?

Then she remembered Malan's words: "Come to Him just as you are."

That night, in 1835, Charlotte Elliott wrote a hymn. Not a grand theological treatise. Not a complicated melody. Just simple words expressing what she'd learned:

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

She wrote six verses total. Each began with "Just as I am" and ended with "I come, I come."

The verses described her exactly: weak, conflicted, poor, blind, full of doubts and fears. And each verse affirmed that God welcomed her anyway—not despite these things, but with them.

Charlotte's brother published the hymn in a collection called "The Invalid's Hymn Book" in 1836. It began circulating in England, then America, then globally.

The hymn resonated with people who felt unworthy, inadequate, too broken to approach God. It told them what Charlotte had learned: God doesn't wait for you to fix yourself. He meets you exactly where you are.

Charlotte Elliott lived another 36 years after writing the hymn, dying September 22, 1871, at age 82. She wrote over 150 hymns during her lifetime, but "Just As I Am" was the one that endured.

She never knew how far her words would travel.

A century after she wrote it, in the 1930s, a young preacher named Billy Graham was beginning his ministry. Born in 1918 on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, Graham had converted to Christianity at age 15 during a revival meeting in 1934.

As Graham began preaching—first to small groups, then larger crowds, eventually to stadium-filling crusades broadcast worldwide—he developed a pattern.

He would preach. Then he would invite people to make a decision for Christ. And as people walked forward to commit their lives to God, a hymn would play.

That hymn was "Just As I Am."

Graham didn't choose it randomly. The hymn captured exactly what he believed: that people didn't need to clean up their lives before coming to God. They could come broken, sinful, confused, doubting.

They could come just as they were.

For over 60 years of ministry, from the 1940s through the early 2000s, Billy Graham closed every crusade with "Just As I Am." The hymn became synonymous with his invitation—so much that many people called it "Billy Graham's song," not realizing it had been written by an English invalid a century earlier.

Millions of people walked forward during that hymn. In stadiums across America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia. In person and on television and radio broadcasts reaching hundreds of millions more.

How many people committed their lives to Christ while hearing Charlotte Elliott's words? Impossible to count. Millions, certainly. Perhaps tens of millions over Graham's 60-year ministry.

Charlotte Elliott, the invalid who felt useless to God, wrote words that would accompany more conversions than perhaps any other hymn in history.

She never knew. She died in 1871, decades before Billy Graham was born, never imagining her simple verses would echo through stadiums filled with 100,000 people.

The irony is beautiful: Charlotte wrote the hymn because she felt she had nothing to offer God. The hymn became one of the most powerful tools for evangelism in modern Christian history.

Her "uselessness" produced usefulness beyond measure.

Today, "Just As I Am" remains one of Christianity's most beloved hymns. It's been translated into dozens of languages. It's been sung at countless church services, revivals, evangelistic events.

Most people who sing it have never heard of Charlotte Elliott. They don't know she was an invalid. They don't know about her conversation with César Malan. They don't know she wrote it feeling worthless and unproductive.

But they know the words. And the words still carry the same message they did in 1835:

You don't have to be strong. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have everything figured out.

Come as you are. God wants you anyway.

Charlotte Elliott lived 82 years. For 49 of those years, she was an invalid—mostly bedridden, often in pain, unable to do the active ministry she wished she could do.

She wrote 150 hymns. One became the invitation hymn for the largest evangelistic crusades in modern history.

She felt useless to God. She wrote words expressing that feeling of inadequacy and God's acceptance despite it.

Those words converted millions.

Billy Graham used her hymn for 60 years and became one of Christianity's most influential evangelists. He knew every word of "Just As I Am."

He probably never knew Charlotte Elliott's name.

She was an invalid who felt she had nothing to offer God.

From her sickbed in 1835, she wrote six verses.

A century later, Billy Graham used those verses to invite millions to faith.

Charlotte Elliott never knew the impact of her "useless" life. She died thinking she'd contributed little.

But her hymn outlived her by 150 years and counting. Her words have been sung by hundreds of millions. Her simple message—come to God just as you are—has shaped modern evangelism.

The invalid who felt worthless wrote words worth more than she could imagine.

She came to God just as she was: sick, weak, doubting.

And from that honest brokenness came a hymn that would bring millions to do the same.

Charlotte Elliott: March 18, 1789 – September 22, 1871.

Invalid. Poet. Hymn writer.

The woman who felt useless to God and wrote the words that converted millions.

Just as she was.

Secret of youthful heart🧡

 *Found this lovely poem worthy to share*

When wrinkles bloom and joints protest,  

Don’t teach the world—just give it rest.  

Even if you're right (and you often are),  

Unsolicited wisdom leaves a scar.

Help only when someone pleads,  

Don’t plant advice like stubborn weeds.  

Don’t bubble-wrap your kin from pain—  

Just love them deep, and not explain.

No moaning 'bout your knees or pills,  

Or neighbors, netas, unpaid bills.  

Don’t turn bitter, don’t be loud—  

Grumpy elders aren’t allowed!

Don’t expect your kids to bow,  

They love you—just not like wow.  

Gratitude’s not their daily bread,  

It’s us who dream it in our head.

Avoid the dreaded elder speech:  

“In my time…” or “I did each…”  

“I’m older, hence I know it all!”  

That’s not wisdom—it’s just gall.

Don’t waste your cash on youth’s disguise,  

On creams or potions full of lies.  

Better to travel, dance, and roam—  

Than Botox your way back to home.

Stay with the times, don’t lag behind,  

Learn new tech, expand your mind.  

Read the news, decode the apps—  

Don’t be the one who always naps.

Do what you love, while you still can,  

Be your own fan, your biggest stan.  

No guilt-trips down memory lane—  

You did your best, now don’t complain.

Hold your pride, your grace, your name,  

Don’t play the martyr’s aging game.  

Keep giving love, your finest art—  

That’s the secret to a youthful heart.😊

👨‍⚖True Justice 🍞🧀

 

🥖 The Boy Who Stole Bread — and the Judge Who Taught the World a Lesson ⚖️

In a crowded courtroom, a 15-year-old boy stood trembling, his head lowered. He had been caught stealing — not money, not gold — but a packet of bread and some cheese. When the store guard tried to stop him, he resisted, and in the scuffle, a shelf broke.

The judge looked at him and asked gently,

“Did you really steal these things?”

“Yes, sir,” the boy whispered.

“Why?”

“Because I needed to.”

“You could have bought them.”

“I had no money.”

“Then ask your family.”

“I only have my mother, sir… she’s sick and unemployed. The bread and cheese were for her.”

The courtroom fell silent. The judge asked again, “Don’t you work?”

“I wash cars, sir… but I took the day off to look after my mother.”

“Did you ask anyone for help?”

“I begged since morning… no one helped.”

The judge leaned back in his chair. His eyes softened, and after a moment of silence, he began reading his verdict:

“Theft — especially the theft of bread — is a terrible crime. But today, everyone in this courtroom shares the guilt of this theft — including me. Because if a child has to steal food for his sick mother, then we, as a society, have failed him.”

Then, to everyone’s surprise, he announced:

“I fine every person present here, including myself, $10 each for allowing hunger to exist in our city. No one will leave until they pay.”

He placed $10 from his own pocket on the table.

“And,” the judge continued, “I impose a $1,000 fine on the store owner for handing a hungry child to the police instead of giving him food. If it’s not paid within 24 hours, the court will order the store to be sealed.”

When the session ended, the courtroom was filled with tears. The boy stood quietly — his hiccups gone — staring at the judge with eyes full of gratitude and disbelief.

That day, justice wasn’t just delivered; it was felt.

Because true justice isn’t about punishing the weak — it’s about correcting the wrongs of society.

🌍 “Civilizations don’t thrive because of religion or wealth — they thrive when they have humanity.” ❤️

✝️Sometimes its tough to understand 🖤

 ❤ 

Jesus didn’t heal everyone.

I’ve wrestled with that truth in the quiet places no one sees, in the hospital hallways where prayers echoed unanswered,

in the graveside silences where I begged Him to come late like He did for Lazarus…

and still believed He could.

He didn’t always stop.

He didn’t always speak.

Sometimes… He just walked by.

Sometimes the thorn wasn’t removed….

And that truth used to ache in me like a wound I couldn’t name.

I had this idea that if He could, He should.

That if He was near, He would fix what was broken. That if He loved me, He’d rescue me, quickly, publicly, visibly.

But He didn’t.

And yet… He loved me still.

I used to think miracles were the evidence of favor. Now I see, sometimes, the silence is.

Sometimes the “no” is just as holy as the “now.”

Sometimes the waiting is more sacred than the wonder.

Because the truth is, Jesus didn’t heal everyone.

Not every lame man walked.

Not every blind eye opened.

Not every storm was stilled.

Not every grave was emptied.

But He saw every ache.

He felt every cry.

He wept at every tomb.

Even the ones He didn’t raise.

I’m learning that His love is not proven by how quickly He answers,

but by how faithfully He stays when He doesn’t.

He didn’t always heal the body.

But He always touched the soul.

He always restored what mattered most.

And He always walked in love, even when His hands didn’t move the way I hoped.

So here I am, years into a prayer I’m still waiting on. Holding the tension between faith and fatigue.

Still believing He can.

Still trusting Him even if He doesn’t.

Still finding Him in the places I didn’t expect, 

the long nights, the dry spells, the closed doors, the empty hands.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the deeper healing.

Maybe He walked past them so He could walk with me.

Maybe He withheld the miracle to give me more of Him.

Maybe the greatest healing isn’t in the answer, 

but in the nearness of the One who holds me while I wait.

He didn’t heal everyone. But He never passed by the brokenhearted.

And I know now, He has not passed by me.

🎵The Story 🎶behind the 🎼Song▶️

 

✝️

"I have decided to follow Jesus"

In 1904 a Welshman ventured halfway across the world to India and he trekked up the mountains towards a remote village in the east. 

He was told, "Go back! The tribe in that village are famously

violent" but the Welshman ignored the warnings because even these savage headhunters should have the opportunity to hear about the mercy of God.

One Garo tribesman from the tribe Meghalaya named 'Nokseng' and his family heard the Gospel and received Jesus as their Savior. The good news was too good to keep to themselves and they shared the Gospel with others in the tribe.

The chief was very angry and he had the tribesman and his family dragged before the village.

 "Stop following Jesus!" the chief demanded. 

The tribesman replied "No I have decided to follow Jesus I am not turning back" 

The chief was furious and killed the tribes man's children.

"Stop following Jesus!" the chief insisted. 

The tribesman replied "Though none go with me

I still will follow no turning back." 

The chief showed no mercy and he killed the tribes man's wife. 

"Now you will stop following this Jesus!" the chief said. 

The tribesman looked the chief in the eyes and replied "The cross before me the world behind me no turning back." 

The chief could not believe his ears and he killed the tribesman. 

.

Jesus said if a grain of wheat dies it bears much fruit and that day many of the villagers who witnessed the persecution of that tribesman and his family also decided to follow Jesus - even the chief himself became a follower of Jesus Christ.

The tribes man's last words became the song of the village and today it is sung all around the world.

A hundred years later, you still sing this song to church. 

"I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back, no turning back."

Do you know that you are singing the words of a dead man who lost his children, lost his wife, and eventually lost his own life for Jesus? 

How many people have you lost? Some of you might have, but the fact you are reading this means you still have your own life. Why falter in faith when you lose the little things you value on this Earth? Why do you threaten yourself to stop following Jesus when hardships come? Why do you deny Christ’s Lordship over your life when your friends are around?

You can lose your job. 

Lose a loved one. 

Lose all your friends.

Lose an exam. 

Lose a great opportunity. 

Lose a romantic interest. 

You can lose literally EVERYTHING here on Earth, but remember Nokseng and the words he said when he lost everything:

"The Cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back."

Friends, whether you have decided to follow Jesus this week, last month, last year, or many years ago... 

Remember,

N O   T U R N I N G   B A C K

--

The Imperial Patriarch

👉Ignore the labels🙈

 

During a prank, a student stuck a paper on his classmate's back that said "𝗜'𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗱", and asked the rest of the class not to tell the boy.

Thus the students began laughing on and off...

Came afternoon math class started and their teacher wrote a difficult question on the board.

No one was able to answer it except the boy with the sticker.

Amid the unexplained giggles, he walked toward the board and solved the problem.

The teacher asked the class to clap for him and remove the paper on his back.

She told him: "It seems that you don’t know about the paper your classmate has pasted on your back."

Then the teacher looked at the rest of the class and said:

"Before I give you a punishment, let me tell you 2 things:

First, throughout your Life, people will put labels on you with many nasty words to stop your progress.

Had your classmate known about the paper, he wouldn't have gotten up to answer the question.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳."

"Second, it’s clear that he doesn't have any loyal friend among you all to tell him about the sticker.

It doesn't matter how many friends you have - it is the loyalty you share with your friends that matters.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲."

 

Ignore the labels others give you.

Dr Fami

👉Jesus has the final say✝️

👉          ☦

 *Father God always has the final say.*

▪︎ Unless God commands, no blessing can come your way.

▪︎ Unless God commands, no curse spoken against you shall come to pass.

▪︎ Unless God signs your petition, nothing would be sanctioned.

▪︎ Unless God decides, there would be a delay.

▪︎ Unless God says "open" , those doors would remain shut.

▪︎ Unless God says "close", no man can close the doors He opened.

Know and acknowledge that God is the one who holds the Power and the Authority.

*Lamentations 3:37*

*Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?*

DO NOT BE UPSET WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY TRY TO PUT YOU DOWN. NO MAN HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PULL YOU DOWN OR TO LIFT YOU UP. GOD IS THE ONE WHO HOLDS ALL THE AUTHORITY - YES, HE HAS THE FINAL SAY.

🤩 Happiness 🎈

 

A teacher gave a balloon to every student, who had to inflate it, write their name on it and throw it in the hallway. The teacher then mixed all the balloons. The students were then given 5 minutes to find their own balloon. Despite a hectic search, no one found their balloon.

At that point, the teacher told the students to take the first balloon that they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within 5 minutes, everyone had their own balloon.

The teacher said to the students: "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about other people's happiness, we'll find ours too."

May your day be filled with happiness. ❤️

⛪Get ready for second coming ✝️

 

Every minute someone leaves this world behind. Age has nothing to do with it.

We are all in "the line" without knowing it.

We never know how many people are before us.

We can not move to the back of the line.

We can not step out of the line.

We can not avoid the line.

So while we wait in line:

Make moments count.

Make priorities.

Make the time.

Make your gifts known.

Make a nobody feel like a somebody.

Make your voice heard.

Make the small things big.

Make someone smile.

Make the change.

Make love.

Make up.

Make peace.

Make sure to tell your people they are loved.

Make sure to have no regrets.

Make sure you are ready… 

- Marianne Baum

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Waiting- hurts ☹

 

The fate of parents is to wait for their children. They wait during pregnancy, they wait after school, they wait for them to return home after a night out. They wait as their children start their own lives. They wait for them to come home from work to a warm dinner. They wait with love, with anxiety, and sometimes with fleeting anger that dissipates as soon as they see their children and can embrace them.

Make sure your elderly parents don't have to wait any longer. Visit them, love them, hug the ones who loved you like no one else ever will. Don't keep them waiting; they're expecting this from you.

Because bodies age, but the hearts of parents never grow old. Love them as much as you can. No one will love you like your parents do. ❤️

🍃Useless turns to useful🌲

My mother used to cook beans, but before she cooked them, she would pick out the bad and dirty ones and throw them in our backyard, only cooking the good beans.

But when the rain came, those dirty and bad beans became seeds, grew, and looked beautiful. Interestingly, the same person who threw them away started harvesting them, realizing that the beans she discarded had value after all.

• Now, let me tell you:

1. Don't cry when people throw you aside.

2. Don't cry when they reject you.

3. Don't cry when they look down on you.

4. Some may see you as a burden.

5. Some may say you’re too slow or dull.

6. Some may blame you for your past mistakes. Don't worry.

The rain is coming, and the same people who rejected you will invite you back.

God loves even those who are left out and looked down upon. God will bless you—just stay connected to Him, and everyone will see how valuable you are.

🧡Lies my mom told me👧

 

8 LIES MY MOM TOLD ME

This story began when I was a child. I was born into a poor family that often didn’t have enough food to fill our hungry stomachs. During meal times, Mother would give me her portion of rice. As she transferred her rice into my bowl, she would always say, “Eat this rice, son. I’m not hungry.”

That was Mother’s First Lie.

As I grew up, my persevering mother spent her spare time fishing to provide me with nutrition. She would cook fresh fish soup for me, and while I ate, she would sit beside me, quietly picking at the remnants left on the fish bones I had finished. Feeling touched, I would offer her the other fish portion, but she always refused, saying, “Eat the fish, son. I don’t really like fish.”

That was Mother’s Second Lie.

When I was in junior high school, Mother took on extra work assembling used matchboxes to help fund my studies. One night, I woke up and saw her still working by candlelight. I said, “Mom, go to sleep. It’s late, and you have to work tomorrow.” She smiled and replied, “Go to sleep, dear. I’m not tired.”

That was Mother’s Third Lie.

The final term arrived, and Mother took leave from work to be with me. She patiently waited for hours in the heat while I finished my exam. When it ended, she welcomed me and poured a cup of tea from a flask. Seeing her covered in sweat, I offered her my cup, but she pushed it back and said, “Drink, son. I’m not thirsty!”

That was Mother’s Fourth Lie.

After my father died, my mother had to provide for us alone. Life became harder, more complicated, and we suffered daily. Despite our worsening situation, we were blessed with a kind old man who visited and helped us occasionally. Neighbors often advised my mom to remarry, but she refused, saying, “I don’t need love.”

That was Mother’s Fifth Lie.

After I finished my studies and got a job, it was time for my mom to retire. But she didn’t want to, she went to the marketplace every morning to sell vegetables to support herself. I worked in another city and often sent her money to help, but she wouldn’t accept it. Sometimes, she even sent the money back, saying, “I have enough money.”

That was Mother’s Sixth Lie.

With my Bachelor's Degree, I pursued a Master's funded by a company scholarship and got a job there. I planned to bring my mother to live with me so she could enjoy her life in the city, but she didn’t want to inconvenience me. She said, “I’m not used to that kind of life, son.”

That was Mother’s Seventh Lie.

In her later years, Mother became seriously ill and needed to be hospitalized. I traveled across the ocean to be by her side. She lay weak and exhausted on her bed after surgery, her frail appearance a stark reminder of the toll the illness had taken. Though she tried to smile warmly, it was clear it took considerable effort on her part. Seeing her like this broke my heart, and my tears flowed freely without me even realizing. Despite her own suffering, she gathered her remaining strength and said softly, “Don’t cry, my dear. I’m not in pain.”

That was Mother’s Eighth and Last Lie.

After uttering her final lie, my beloved mother closed her eyes forever, leaving behind a poignant silence that spoke louder than words ever could.

I realized that the greatest acts of love are often hidden behind simple, everyday sacrifices. Cherish the silent struggles of those who love us, for they reveal the depth of their devotion.

😳Dont scared of mistakes ☺️

 

 “If milk🍶 is wasted, it becomes yogurt. 🍨

Yogurt is more valuable than milk.

If it gets any worse, it becomes cheese. 🧀

Cheese is more valuable than yogurt and milk.

And if grape juice🍇 turns sour, it turns into wine, 🍷which is even more expensive than grape juice.

You're not bad because you made mistakes. Mistakes ❌are experiences that make you more valuable as a person. 😎

Christopher Columbus made a navigation error that led him to discover America. 🗺

Alexander Fleming's mistake led him to invent penicillin. 💉

Don't let your mistakes ✖depress you. It's not practice that makes perfect✔. It's the mistakes we learn from that make perfect!”✅

Don't be scared of mistakes 

more bigger steps ahead 

just keep going.

💑 Stages of Marriage 👫

 THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF MARRIAGE.

1. THE AMAZEMENT STAGE: This is the "wow" stage. Lots of new things to discover with your spouse. The newness, the freshness is so amazing. Sleeping on the same bed, wearing the same attire, cooking for him, doing house chores with her, bathing together. Wearing your dazzling wedding ring everywhere, turning people's head at the newest couple around. Loads and lots of fun. Sexual exploration and excitement. Being in control of your kitchen, feeding him and lots more. It's the honeymoon stage and it's so so beautiful.

2. THE IRRITATION STAGE: This is when you begin to notice weaknesses you have overlooked or blissfully wish they go away but didn't. The repetition of such weaknesses begins to work on your nerves and you are getting irritated: he snores a lot, she is slow in the kitchen, she belches loudly, he screams unnecessarily, she won't bathe before coming to bed or shave, he spends many hours watching football and ignores you when you talk. "What's just wrong with this guy?" You think aloud, well it's part of marriage.

3. THE ANGER STAGE: This is when the repetition of such weaknesses gets on your nerves and you display your anger. The introverted partners stuffs it in and either keep malice, avoid you or stubbornly continue with the irritating habit. It's the stage you begin to wonder: "have I really married the wrong guy?" "Have I married the wrong woman?" No, you did not, you are simply going through a phase together.

4. THE RESOLUTION STAGE: When you both begin to face the reality of marriage and acknowledge your partner's weaknesses. You eventually realize anger and malice does not solve any problem and begins to find ways to deal with your differences, both of you begin to compromise here and there and adjust to each other.

5. THE ACCEPTANCE STAGE: When it dawned on you that some things are just part of your partner and may never change. You resigned from anger, abuse and quarrel and choose to accept them, lovingly adjust to them and enjoy them regardless of their weaknesses.

6. THE RESTFUL STAGE:This is the stage you permanently accept them with all their strengths, weaknesses, short comings and flaws and love them unconditionally regardless of what they do. This is real love -agape, divine and true. You reconnect emotionally, spiritually and physically at a deeper level and enjoy honey moon again while building a lasting marriage regardless of the challenges you face.

There is no perfect marriage. Every marriage goes through this stages. How you handle it will determine if you will come out bitter or better.

You don't have to abuse your spouse or keep malice if God is at the centre of your home and you obey the word of God daily.

Nevertheless, do not be disappointed if you go through the unpleasant stages in marriage. It is a phase and will surely end.

Handle your marriage with wisdom and keep loving regardless of the challenges you face. That is what will make your marriage a heaven on earth experience. Thanks for reading.

👩‍✈️🕵️‍♀️👮‍♀️👩‍🚒👸🧕👩‍🦰She doesn't work👩‍⚕️👩‍🎓👩‍🏫👩‍⚖👩‍🍳👩‍🌾👩‍🏭👩‍🎨👩‍💼

 MY WIFE DOES NOT WORK!!!

Conversation between a Husband (H) and a Psychologist (P):

P: What do u do for a living Mr. Bandy?

H: I work as an Accountant in a Bank.

P: your Wife ?

H: She doesn't work, She's only a housewife.

P: Who makes breakfast for your family in the morning?

H: My Wife, because she doesn't work.

P: At what time does your wife wake up for making breakfast?

H: She wakes up at around 5am because she cleans the house first before making breakfast.

P: How do your kids go to school?

H: My wife takes them to school, because she doesn't work.

P: After taking ur kids to school, what does she do?

H: She goes to the market, then goes back home for cooking and laundry. You

know she doesn't work.

P: In the evening, after you go back home from office, what do you do?

H: Takes a rest because I’m tired due to all day's work.

P: What does your wife do then?

H: She prepares meals, serving our kids, preparing meals for me and cleaning

the dishes, cleaning the house then taking kids bed.

***Whom do you think works more from the story above???

The daily routines of your wives commence from early morning to late night and

you called that DOESN'T WORK?

Yes, being housewives do not need certificate of Study, even high position,

but their role/part is very important!

Appreciate your wives because their sacrifices are uncountable, this should be a

reminder and reflection for all of us to understand and appreciate each others

roles.

***All about a woman***

When she is quiet, millions of things are running in her mind.

When she stares at you she is wondering why she loves you so much in spite of

being taken for granted.

When she says I will stand by you she will stand by you like a rock.

Never hurt her or take her wrong for granted.

A very heart touching message by a

woman.

Someone asked her, Are you a working woman or a housewife?

She replied:

Yes, I am a full-time

working housewife.

9+

I work 24 hours a day.

I'm a Mum.

I'm a Wife.

I'm a Daughter.

I'm a Daughter-in-law.

I'm an Alarm clock.

I'm a Cook.

I'm a Maid.

I'm a Teacher.

I'm a Waiter.

I'm a Nanny.

I'm a Nurse.

I'm a Handyman.

I'm a Security officer.

I'm a Counselor.

I'm a Comforter.

I don't get holidays.

I don't get sick leave.

I don't get day off.

I work through day and night.

I'm on call all hours and get paid with a

sentence.

***What Do you do all Day??

***Dedicated to all women***

Woman has the most unique character like salt, her presence is never

remembered but her absence makes all the things tasteless.

Pass it to all the lovely ladies...

Your Mother.

Your Wife.

Your daughter.

Your sister and your friend.

Share to every woman to make her smile and to every man to make him realize a

woman's worth.

 Amen....🙏🙏

🧔Father's handprints 👐

~Father's handprints ~ 

✋🏽 🖐🏽 🤚🏽 

Father had grown old and would take support of the wall while walking. As a result the walls had discoloured, wherever he used to touch and his fingerprints got printed on the walls.

My wife detected this and would often complain about the dirty looking walls.

One day, he was having headache, so he massaged some oil onto his head. So, while walking oil stains were formed on the walls. 

My wife screamed at me seeing this.  And I in turn shouted at my father and spoke to him rudely, advising him not to touch the walls while walking.

He looked hurt. I also felt ashamed of my behaviour , but did not say anything to him.

Father stopped holding the wall while walking. And fell down one day. He became bedridden and left us shortly. I felt guilt in my heart and could never forget his expressions and forgive myself of his demise shortly thereafter. 

After sometime,  we wanted to get our house painted. When the painters came, my son, who adored his grandfather,  did not allow the painters to clean father's fingerprints, and paint those areas.

The painters were very good and innovative. They assured him that they will not remove my father's fingerprints/ handprints, rather would draw a beautiful circle around these marks and create a unique design.

This continued thereafter and those prints become part of our house. Every person visiting our home admired our unique design. 

With time, I also grew old.

Now I needed the support of wall to walk. One day while walking, I remembered 

my words to my father, and tried to walk without support. My son saw this and immediately came to me and asked me to take support of the walls while walking, expressing concern that I would have fallen without support, I realised that my son was holding me.

My grand daughter immediately came forward and affectionately,  asked me put my hand on her shoulder for support. I almost started crying silently. Had I done the same for my father, he would have lived longer.

My grand daughter took me along and made me sit on the sofa.

Then she took out her drawing book to show me.

Her teacher had admired her drawing and given her excellent remarks. 

The sketch was of my father's handprint on the walls. 

*Her  comment -  “wish every child loves elders in same way.”*

I came back to my room and started crying profusely, asking forgiveness from my father, who was no more.

*We also grow old with time.  Let's take care of our elders and teach the same to our children.*

**************

😥😰😭🙏🫡

🏅The best yet to come🎀

 The best has been kept aside for the chosen one!

It would be kept safe till you arrive there

God has set aside your blessing for you

No man could stop it from reaching your hands

God has glorious plans for your life

None of them shall be thwarted

God knows what is best for you

He knows your past, present and your future

Though we may not perceive what He has for us

He is still working on our behalf

Believe, the best is in store for you!

God always gives the best to His beloved ones

*1 Samuel 9:23*

*Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside."*

YOUR PIECE OF MEAT HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR YOU! NONE CAN STEAL YOUR BLESSING!! YOU WILL SURELY INHERIT THE BLESSINGS HE HAS IN STORE YOU - JUST BELIEVE!!!

🎀Valuable gift🎁

 

*A Touching Story*

“In 1979, I was managing a Wendy's in Port Richey, Florida.  

Unlike today, staffing was never a real problem, but I was searching for a someone to work three hours a day only at lunch. I went thru all my applications and most were all looking for full time or at least 20 hours per week. I found one however, buried at the bottom of a four-inch stack that was only looking for lunch part-time. His name was Nicky. 

Hadn't met him but thought I would give him a call and see if he could stop by for an interview. When I called, he wasn't in but his mom said she would make sure he would be there.

At the accorded time, Nicky walked in. One of those moments when my heart went in my throat. Nicky had Downs Syndrome. His physical appearance was a giveaway and his speech only reinforced the obvious. I was young and sheltered. Had never interacted on a professional level with a developmentally disabled person. I had no clue what to do, so I went ahead and interviewed him.

He was a wonderful young man. 

Great outlook.

Task focused. 

Excited to be alive. 

For reasons only God knew at that time, I hired him. 3 hours a day, 3 days a week to run a grill. I let the staff know what to expect. Predictably, the crew made sure I got the message, "no one wants to work with a retard."

To this day I find that word offensive. We had a crew meeting, cleared the air, and prepared for his arrival. Nicky showed up for work right on time.

He was so excited to be working. He stood at the time clock literally shaking with anticipation. He clocked in and started his training. Couldn't multi task, but was a machine on the grill. Now for the fascinating part.....

Back in that day, there were no computer screens to work from. Every order was called by the cashier.

It required a great deal of concentration on the part of all production staff to get the order right.

While Nicky was training during his first shift, the sandwich maker next to him asked the grillman/trainer what was on the next sandwich. 

Nicky replied, "single, no pickle no onion." A few minutes later it happened again. It was then that we discovered Nicky had a hidden and valuable skill.

He memorized everything he heard! Photographic hearing ? WHAT A SKILL ! It took 3 days and every sandwich maker requested to work with Nicky. He immediately was accepted by the entire crew. After his shift he would join the rest of his crew family, drinking Coke like it was water! 

It was then that they discovered another 

Rainman-esque trait. 

Nicky was a walking/talking perpetual calendar! With a perpetual calendar as a reference, they would sit for hours asking him what day of the week was December 22, 1847 or some more. He never missed. This uncanny trait mesmerized the crew.

His mom would come in at 2 to pick him up.

More times than not, the crew would be back there with him hamming it up. 

As I went to get him from the back, his mom said something I will never forget. "Let him stay there as long as he wants.

He has never been accepted anywhere like he has been here." I excused myself and dried my eyes, humbled and broken-hearted at the lesson I just learned.

Nicky had a profound impact on that store. His presence changed a lot of people. Today I believe with every fiber of my body that Nicky's hiring was no accident. God's Timing and Will is Perfect.

We are all like Nicky. 

We each have our shortcomings. We each have our strong points. But we are all of value. God made us that way and God doesn't make mistakes. 

*Nicky certainly wasn't a mistake.*

He was a valuable gift that I am forever grateful for. 

God doesn't care if you are rich or poor, republican or democrat,  black or white. 

He doesn't care if your chromosome structure is perfect. 

He doesn't care what level of education you have attained. 

So let’s check our hearts. ❤️

*There is a little bit of Nicky in all of us and I suspect there is a Nicky somewhere in your life that is looking for the chance to be embraced.*❤️❤️