EXODUS OF MY LOVE STORY

I remember vividly, the first day we hung out for the first time. That day I was flat broke, and I had only N50 on me. He called to ask if we could hang out since he was in PH. The normal me, as per the very normal me would never leave my house if I had no money and I had to hang out with a man.

I remembered a friend drove me to a new Genesis restaurant not so far from my house, it was fine and wasn't looking like the usual eatery, so I directed him there.

The sun was scorchingly hot, and I didn't even know why I said yes to that outing.

Trust me, I'm one girl that when going out with someone for the first time, I don't stress myself as to what to wear. I stepped into a pair of jeans, wore a big polo, a pams slipper and I walked to the junction to take a taxi.

In my mind, I was laughing at myself and asking "what if he doesn't drive? I would sha just walk back to my house, I told myself."

On getting there, I sat and waited for a while, normal me hates that I seat in an eatery waiting without nibbling on something, but the babe could not afford that luxury of doughnut so I fasheed everyone and was pressing my not so okay phone.

As he stepped into the eatery, I watched as he walked and almost laughed my heart out. My dear brother wore a big short, a polo shirt inside, a big shortsleeve shirt on the outside and one small oversize palms. 😂

My I don't care did not reach this one abeg. 😂 He apologized for being late and asked what I would take. Me I sha told him that he had mind not to package and come out to officially meet with a girl for the first time. I can't remember his response to me, but I know it was hilarious and honest. He even told me back that he was surprised I came the way I came. We bought laughed at our 'I don't care about first impression selves'.

I have another bad habit, if I hang out with a young guy that isn't wadded, I try to just take a drink, if not I'll surprise him and pay for something. If not the food, transport back. (You see why I like having money.) I don't like embarrassment in this my life.

Anyways, I think I settled for one meat pie and a bottle of drink (I can't really remember that.) Uncle was asking me if I was okay. Do I want another thing? In my mind I'm like, "uncle be calming down."😄

I can't remember all we talked about, but I remember him promising to pay for my french fees and changing my phone. I said thank you nicely, but in my mind I was like, "what is this one promising promising me upandan. Did I ask him for his money?" 

PS: He just wanted to be friends o, so there was no love talk. I was surprised that toward the end of the month, uncu called me and said he was sorry he couldn't send me the money as at when I told him, that it would come later because he had some expenses that didn't let him give me then. I was shocked. "Ah! This one even remembers that play play talk for inside Genesis. "It was nice that he did.

I had already started off the French school. I actually have an international French certificate but I couldn't defend it anymore because I wasn't practicing. I had already paid for my fees and paid for some of my books, and I was also choked up with an Interior Design project.

As for my phone, it was jonsing, but a friend of mine came into PH from Dubai and when we went to see a movie, he gave me some money for a new phone. I didn't waste time o, I added the small money I had saved up for a phone and went to buy the one the total cash I had could get.

Uncu was surprised after he had sent me money for French fees and asked me how much was the phone I had told him I had in mind that I had already changed my phone. He said ah! Okay na.

I was surprised that someone that was not asking me out, and someone I don't talk to every day, remembers that he made a promise to me that I thought was a joke. Meanwhile, uncu's phone was badder than mine o😄, but he said he was terrible with phones. Sincerely, I liked his personality and his honesty and his I don't careness but his seriousness.😊

I never knew that this uncu I doubted anyhow would be the love of my life and husband.

Let me end this gist here. Until another day, remember not to look down on anyone. E get why.

This is not the beginning of the story, but let me just start here😁.

It was supposed to be Happy Valentine, but it has passed. So, happy end of February.

Ala O. Pepple nee Wilcox

#mystory 

#blogger #love #story #february

FINISH STONGER

It was not until I got to the house I realized that the testimony I shared at Wordroom came from a more hopeless place than I had made it sound it came from.

It was the last Wordroom session for 2020 and we were discussing 'Beyond 2020 - finishing strong in crisis.'

The first question on our sheets was "Have you ever been in what you thought was a hopeless situation? How did you survive it?"

There's one testimony that comes to my mind easily when it comes to this kind of situation, and it is about one of my very broke moments.

We had been given quit notice to leave few days before my birthday, and we finally had to squat at my uncle's. Our things were actually at my aunt's, whose house was farther for me to afford to transport myself, my sister and mum to church and other places we had to go to, so we managed with my uncle's. On the eve of my birthday three days before we relocated to a relatives; I was tempted by a man with about seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000) while I was broke flat and was in dare need of accommodation. I shared this story 'Decisions' http://alawilcoxblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/decision.html?m=1 on my blog.

Fast forward to about three weeks after we moved, I had exhausted all the savings I had left and I was still job hunting and was still new in business. 

On a fateful day, my sis came home from school and needed money for something important in school, and we also had our last supper for that evening cause I didn't know were the next meal was going to come from.

After we had had our last meal, I had my bath and was ready to retire to bed. But before that, I remembered the story of the widow at Zarephath in the bible and how God used Elijah to supply her with more food than she imagined. I just jejely told God like I usually do, "God I'm in Your hands o. I don't know where the next meal will come from, and I've got no idea where money would come from, but I trust You to make a way like You always do."

It was just a sincere prayer, and in just over an hour, I received a phone call from a next compound neighbour of my uncle, that I gave my number a week ago because I knew him from my former church. Usually, I wouldn't step an inch out of my house after I've had my night bath, but when he insisted I came downstairs, I had the feeling to just go, so I did.

He first took me to the shop adjacent to our house and asked them to give me fresh bread (my lovely best food that year) and juice. Me was now saying, "no, thank you." Meanwhile, inside my mind, I was happy o. After plenty "it's nothing, just take it from me," I took it.

We walked outside and stood at my gate, gisting about the things I can't remember right now (I'm guessing it was music.) I told him thank you for the dinner and opted to go inside as it was getting late. Uncle shook my hand, and it was money that entered it. Ma dear, it shocked me o! I could only say thank you.

As I climbed the stairs and entered into my uncle's flat, I counted the money and was amazed at how accurate it was. My sister's bill for the next day and her transportation was sorted, and I had balance to go out and hustle. I knelt down and told God thank You. In fact, we all did. I did it with tears in my eyes, cause it blew my imagination how it came.

Truthfully, I had asked God prior to this time why I would be tempted with so much money and not have money, but I sha just relied on His word. 

This testimony reminded me that, trusting God through the toughest of situations helps you trust and have faith in Him more. It helps you become stronger. Anything of that level that comes your way as a way of testing, it would surprise you how much you wouldn't be as bothered as you use to before.

It also teaches you lessons that could become a force of encouragement to others in the future.

I know 2020 has been quite an ordeal for almost everyone, if not everyone, but I'm here to encourage you to trust God through it all, regardless of where you find yourself now. You can FINISH STRONGER than you anticipated. It might come in little ways you wouldn't appreciate, but it will surely happen.

Being alive to see December in this year full of hurdles is a testimony on it's own.

Count your blessings and be thankful to God cause FINISHing STRONGER, we must attain.

ALA O. PEPPLE

Proverbs 3:5-6(MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. 

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 TPT

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.

#AlaPepple #finishstronger #trustGod #grateful

I AM

Wondering why you are overwhelmed?
It's because you've left a lot of things undone. You have been procrastinating, looking for the right time, looking for perfection, searching for the key to start, searching for how to start.
Now you see that everything I told you to do was for a reason. It's now toomuch for you to handle.
How would I achieve all this without failing? You ask yourself.

Don't worry about it. I AM. I AM the way,  the truth, the life. I AM the beginning, I AM the end. I AM The Key. I AM The Starting. I AM The How. You have Me, you have all the answers you need.
Your heart shouldn't fail, I AM The Capacity you need.

Just start with me. Trust me. Depend on me.

I AM

*******
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT 

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NLT 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NLT 

ARE YOU? .... BREATHE!

Are you tired of the happenings around the world at this time?
Are you overwhelmed by the do's and don'ts?
Downcasted by the pushes and motivations?
Or putdown by social media and the confusion of who to listen to at a particular time?
Are you sick of working from home? Tired of staying at home, or perhaps you are claustrophobic?

The truth is that, You're not alone! I'm overwhelmed by social media and I know others have their fears too.
It's okay to feel some type of way because of the sad happenings around us. But we don't have to let such feelings becloud us. Like someone said, "you can't stop a bird from flying over your head but you can stop it from building a nest on it. It is key to be awoke for yourself.

Take a break and breathe!!!
You are not in competition with anyone.
Everyone might be right, but there is a 'right' for you.

You might not have plenty, but there is a God who is sufficient in providing.
You might be confused on the know-how, but there is a God who turns our confusion into perfection.
You might be irritated by being with people for a long period of time, but there is a God that can use you to heal and teach another.

You know what?
Turn off the noise. Turn off your data. Put an earpiece in your ears and listen to nothing (just for family and friends to leave you alone). Turn off your system. Close your eyes. Talk to God heart to heart (without opening your mouth). Then, BREATHE DEEPLY.

You know you need it. You will be glad you did it. Do it for your mental health.

Ala O. Wilcox.

#alawilcoxblog #areyou #breathe #live #trustAbba 

A FEW THINGS I'VE LEARNT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

1. A lot of people make comments because they want to be noticed.

2. Many want to just antagonize. Not necessarily because they want to, but because they want to be seen in a different light.

3. Many don't really mean what they say.

4. Many just want to shake tables. This obviously comes with the negatives and positives.

The bottom line is that; we all want to be heard. Observers will say, 'but I only observe.' No dear, even you who observe, when you write, you write because you want someone to hear (read) what you post. You might not care about the likes, but you care about your message being passed.

Truth is, you have the responsibility of telling yourself the truth and living the truth; which is you.

You are your reality. Others have the reality of you in their heads, but you can't live other peoples reality for you. You have to FIND YOU, BUILD YOU, and LIVE YOU.

Before you make a post or write a comment on any page, ask yourself; "Is this for eye service? Is this truly me? Is this me being positively relevant to the world?"

PS: The true you in a certain context might not be positive because of so many things, ranging from bias, nepotism, anger (because you have been directly affected) , culture, religion, etc. So before you post or comment, think of the people your comment could have a negative influence on.

Even me sef, I think before I comment because I might be boiling on an issue and speaking about it might cause an unnecessary controversy. Laslas, I'll read the comments, like and agree on what I agree on and disagree on what I disagree on, just within my space (my head). I must not drag people to have the same struggles I have.

We can't argue that everyone is a working progress. Please work on giving hope to the world, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic season, when everyone's voice is important.

PS TO READERS:

• Don't believe everything you read.
• Evaluate what goes into your mind. And
• Have the discipline of detaching your mind from accepting what won't make you better.

My Thoughts. 

ALA O. WILCOX 

#alawilcoxblog
#readbetweenthelines
#beyondwords
#wisdom
#peopleareimportant
#writtenwordsarepowerful
#weinfluencewithposts
#positivevibesonly
#covid19
#truth
#blog
#blogger
#reality

step back

Sometimes, I can be a weirdo. I say so primarily because I don't seem to fully understand why I think the way I do. In short growing up in the church, a few of my very senior teachers felt I was a rebel, not because I rebelled but because I asked questions they didn't necessarily have answers to. I have changed o, because I've understood that asking some questions to the wrong people would bring bad results.

As a younger girl, I was really inquisitive and outspoken. I also read anything I came across asides mills and boom novels (I wasn't a lovey-dovey freak like the usual teenager.)🙄. I did read some, but those weren't my areas of interest. So, as a teenager, I read a lot of books that were totally opposing my belief system. I read books on crime and investigation, analytics, atheism, etc. I watched horror movies at night.🤦‍♀️ I would always ask myself questions of what the people entrapped would have done differently.
Believe me when I say I am one person that can have an unwavering mind. I got to find this out through my readings and thought processing afterward.

Anytime these things seemed to make sense, I always found myself asking questions that were deeper, and somehow I got answers. I sha know that instead of what I read to make me turn to an atheist, it makes me love Jesus some more, but it makes me ask and have to answer to questions that make Christians become a ridicule in our society and see how I can fix it for myself and in turn influence others to do the right thing.

I used to advise my seniors, so I was seen as smart, intelligent and all. And if I got into an argument with you, I will intelligently rubbish you, but you see that argument, I must win.

Fast forward to growing into a young lady in my mid twenties, I took a step back from always being in the spotlight, always asking questions (based on wanting people to know I know because somewhere at the back of my head i knew the answers directly or indirectly) , always having answers to peoples questions, etc. I stepped back to unlearn, listen and learn. I decided to process slowly and attentively.

Guess what?
It has helped me a whole lot to being the lady, people applaud me to be today. I know sometimes I overdo it, but I'm learning to share when I need to and be quiet when I need to.

I was never really always patient with people. I personally had to go through stages to make that part work. I was ever really not fully judgemental. It took a while to see things from the perspective of Jesus' instruction of loving people. I was never really always soft spoken and courteous. I always wanted to be, but I always got it wrong till I stepped back to observe.

The wisest man in the Bible Solomon also observed. Notice that he didn't go about asking questions to get knowledge. After God had granted him his request, he had the assignment of paying attention to get the understanding the normal man wouldn't because they were busy being busy. For instance, he observed the ants.

The whole world is telling you at this moment to "do, do, do" but you might just need to take a chill pill and observe instead. Observe others, observe systems, observe governments, observe brands, and most importantly, OBSERVE and DISCOVER YOU.

Many might not agree, but as usual, these are just MY THOUGHTS. It's not for everybody but a few.

Ala O. Wilcox.

James 1:19

#AlaWilcox #stepback #covid19 #season #wisdom #blog

PRESENT BUT ABSENT

In the heat of the night,
Through the coolness of the trees,
I heard the whispers of the wind,
Which amplified the sounds of the teaching on the street of Arochukwu.

"It is not wrong to correct a sister"
One of the words the wind sent to me
Everyone was solemnly quiet as she spoke
I guess it's bible classes
If it were Sunday I'll say Sunday school

They were divided into 8 groups
But these words caught me
The lady on red stood out amongst all 8 teachers

Guess what?
It was through the short barricaded fence
I saw how apt they listened
But then again I was distracted
Distracted by a guy who seemed absent
I don't know if he was hungry or disturbed
But I know he was there but wasn't there

So much we can see within a few seconds
Only if we look
Like really look

Guess what?
It wouldn't be his fault if he was rude to a lady after this class session
Why you may ask?
Because he was absent

Present but absent
That's one of the decadence eating our society today
If we can be presently present
We would learn to unlearn

It's just a 5 minutes walk
Hence my inability to say more.
But,
I was present in my presence
Hence the lesson from my walk.

What is your lesson?
Are you presently present or presently absent in this covid-19 season?
Think about it.

My Thoughts.
written on 06-02-20 but relevant for the season.
Ala O. Wilcox

#alawilcoxblog #present #absent #stayathome #covid19