My thoughts on my Birthday.

I really do not know where to start from. Should I start by wishing you a happy new year or what? I guess it is only proper that I start this piece by apologising and thanking everyone to did enquired about my whereabouts. I sincerely apologise. I have to take an unavoidable retreat to attend to an assignment. I am back now and though I can’t promise articles everyday but I want to assure you that I will write as often as I can. Thanks for your understanding. I miss you all. Here is a short piece I wrote today as it is the occasion of my birthday. Stay good.

Today is 13^th of March, it’s a beautiful day outside - sunny and warm! It’s a special day in God’s calendar and I dare you to look at the stars when it’s night time and you‘d see that the day is indeed blessed. Greatness is embedded in the 13^th of March and many great people chose this great day to come to this world. For me, it’s another beautiful day to celebrate

another year! Yes, it is my birthday! Today, as many of you might already know, I become a year older (I don dey old o). Many thoughts and feelings come to me this special day! Mostly a deep feeling of appreciation to God for a journey that is unique, blessed and exciting. For me, my birthday is a time when I remind myself of how much I have to be grateful for. It's a day where I think about the good people (and things) I have been blessed with. The lessons I have learnt all through the years (learnt so many this last year). When it comes to thanking God, it greatly boils down to every little detail of what he has done for me and His promise of Greatness in my life. How blessed I am, how much good I have in my life and I want to show Him how much I appreciate Him.

Likewise, I thank everyone who remembered me today and said a word of prayer for me! Each greeting and prayer really mean a lot to me and absolutely made my day. You guys are absolutely fantastic. Thanks to the internet for making remembering people's birthday and sending greetings much easier! My gratitude will not be complete without thanking my family for always been there through thick and thin. I specially want to appreciate the love of my life (Ms. Obinna Oyinyechi Taiwo V.) for her pure love and always taking the time and making efforts to make me feel special every day (not just today). You remain the best.

My ultimate appreciation goes to my maker! I thank you lord for giving me another year - another year to be productive, to share my life and be a blessing to other people. Thank You for the overflowing blessings you continually shower on me. I pray that you always guide me and help me become a better person every day. I have relied on you all my life and you have protected me since the day I was born till this day. I will always praise you my Jehovah. I thank you for your kindness, mercy, grace and protection, for all my achievements, for the family and friends you have blessed me with. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I sincerely thank you for that! Father, I do not know what lies ahead but I promise that as long as I have my being, I will praise you every day. I have no doubt in my heart that you are holding my future in your precious hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As you have

promised, be with me O Lord, hold me with your strength and uplifting grace so that I can shine for your glory. Grant me all the needs in my life and support me in all I do. Grant me the grace to draw closer to you and keep me away from all harm and danger. Let this year be a year of blessing for me Lord. I know where you fit into my life, I have no doubt about your thoughts towards me hence I pray that not my will be done but yours in my life. Help me to live a fulfilled life, a life dedicated to your glory and humanity.

Lord, I remember your promise today in Joshua 1:5 and unshakably stand by it; 

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you."

Strive to FINISH......It is never enough to just start.

Good day friends. This piece is a follow-up to that of yesterday. Read it HERE if you missed it. As this piece reveals that it is not enough to start something, you must be able to finish what you have started. Yes! to finish means you actually have to start. Finishing only comes after starting. It doesn't just happen. You have to take action and move towards completing the task, reaching the goal, dream. It is not important how you start, it is how you finish that counts. Finishing something you’ve worked hard for feels incredible! It makes all the pain along the way worth it. To finish, you must "begin with the end in mind" - and keep it there! While you work toward the finish line, you must keep your focused on it; pre-live the experience and keep pushing towards it and ensure you finish strong. Finishing strong requires focus, discipline, self-control, endurance and determination.

Having a victory mindset is the key to finishing. It separates the winners from the losers. When you finish, it means that you have prepared in advance, kept the end in mind from the beginning and you have learned and integrated lessons along the way. Finishing is what winners do! You cannot win if you quit along the way. It does not mean you won’t come across stumbling blocks and challenges along the way neither does it mean things will always go smoothly. It simply means you did all you could and never gave up until completion.

One finishing story that always motivate me is the story of John Stephen Aquari. A Tanzanian Olympian who struggled to complete the 1968 Olympic marathon after he fell during the race cutting and dislocating his knee. As he pushed himself through the pain and one (1) hour after the race had already been won, John Stephen Aquari ensured he crossed the finish line. When asked by a reporter why he didn't quit since the game had already been worn, he replied ”My country did not send me to 5,000 miles to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.” You can click HERE to watch the video. You may not finish first or on time but finishing a race or a task fuels your passion and keeps you inspired. No wonder Stephen Aquari finished 5th in the marathon at the 1970 Commonwealth Games two years later even with his bad leg. No matter what your goal is, ensure you achieve it not for the sake of winning or the reward but for what will become of you after you go across the finish line.

John Stephen Aquari

Are you prepared to finish what you have started? Or are you still toiling on it? Can you finish that on time? or in a lifetime? By all means, you have to be finishers. Whatever you have started should be realized, must be completed, or finished as long as it is positive and good for humanity. Sometimes it does not matter if someone else finish before you, it only matters that you did not quit. The finish line is never that far. Just a few steps more and you are there! Never let distractions or hindrances stop you from finishing. Strive to finish well and strong.