My course in the
university was not what I practice for a living now. In fact when I started out
in University of Nigeria little did I know how things would turn out. But what
I am today I owe to God first, and then to good family values. I had a very disciplined
father and he brought us up strictly. He was a non stipendiary church teacher
in the Anglican Church for a while before travelling to further his education.
He would give me money in the university and expect me to retire the money
before getting another. It was not a verbal retirement he demanded but a
written one. I am ashamed to say that I would lie just to balance the accounts
and get more money from him. You see I was not converted as at then.
In the course of
time I came in contact with such brethren as Ven Sam, Iyke and Harold and gave
my life to Jesus. I knew I could no longer continue the lies. Now this I say and testify in the Lord,
that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds Eph 4:17(ESV). I tried to balance my accounts but could not. I tended
to spend without having thought it through and could not recount later
everything I had purchased. I owned up to my dad what I had been doing and when
he still insisted on not giving me money without a proper accounting I fell out
with him. For the moment all discipline
seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it Heb 12:11(ESV). For a while I was
on my own. Having skills of keyboard playing and driving I was using them as a
student to make money. In those days there was not this Anglican revival there
is today; I found nourishment in Pentecostal settings. Indeed I made a lot of
money and felt myself comfortable for two years I didn’t go back to my father.
In the course of time a void came up in my life that could only be filled by
his presence so I went back to him.
He seemed to have
been waiting for me and took me in. but he said we had to go back to the
discipline of balancing account books. He taught me that it is not proper to
spend money impulsively; one should think things through before spending. I
learned the skills and became very competent in balancing accounts, making budgets
and pursuing set goals and targets. Indeed I became employed in the banking
industry. I analyze risk and balance books as though I were a chartered
accountant which my dad was. In fact in this competitive industry I am a
regional manager. When I wanted to get married I faced a lot of opposition from
my uncles and relations. My father stepped in and declared that I have his
total support for the marriage and was going to give me his blessings because I
had learnt total obedience and accountability. That’s how we got married and
today are blessed with both male and female children. I live each day being
accountable as my dad taught me and it has really profited me. My dad passed on
to be with the Lord 3 years ago and his home going was glorious. "Honor your father and mother that it may go well
with you and that you may live long in the land." Eph 6:2-3(ESV)
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