Show some real love

Introduction

The word “love” is used so loosely until it is becoming like a cliché to some. Some people tell you that they love you but their actions do not demonstrate that they love you. Some people say they love you and tomorrow they hate you. Some people say they love you but is it real love. If they love you then why do they leave you when trouble comes your way? I believe if you really love somebody, you should be with them in the good and bad times and I am not just talking about romantic love.

Sometimes we equate love with feelings and when we stop having those feelings, we say our love no longer exists. Sometimes our love is based on the external features and status of individuals but the moment they no longer look the same or lose their status, our love for them has gone.

There is too much fake love. It is time we truly show some real love to others.  The word of God says in 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

Fake love

Fake love is when people express love to one another but it is not sincere. There are some people who are using people and are taking advantage of people all in the name of love. If someone is using you, more than likely that is fake love or no love at all. I believe sometimes we know when we are being used but some of us just want to be loved or trying to prove a point to others that you are loved.

Fake love is when people do not want to be seen in public with you. If you love someone, they why do you only have to see them privately. You should be proud to be in public with the people you love.

When someone is talking badly about you to others, that is a sign of fake love. When you love someone you should not be badmouthing that person.

When you are cruel, mistrust people and abuse people, these are possible signs of fake love. Unfortunately, there are still some individuals who believe getting “beatings” or being abused is proof that someone loves them.

Real Love

The definition of real love is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Let us show some real love by displaying and living the meaning of the aforementioned definition of love. The definition is self-explanatory.

Conclusion

Love is the key that will solve many of our issues. However, it must be real love. It is time we stop faking and show some real love. Stop using the word “love’ loosely. If you don’t love someone, don’t pretend you do and don’t tell them that you do. In the end when the truth comes out that you were faking , many lives will be destroyed.

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It pays to be an expert – It pays to use an expert

Introduction

Some of us take short cuts in life and sometimes it is because of our financial needs and sometimes if because of the urgency of the situation. In so doing, we chose the cheapest and quickest ways to remedy the issues. The issues may be resolved but only on a temporary basis because whatever or whoever we used to fix the problem did not know exactly what they were doing and as a result you find yourself spending more time and money to fix the same issue you already paid someone to do.

The best thing in life is to become an expert in whatever you do. According to Dictionary.com, an expert is “a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.”  The key words in this definition are comprehensive and authoritative.

Once you acquired the necessary skills and knowledge in becoming an expert in your field, you increase your value. This is one of the reasons why you have to pay so much to an expert. While using an expert may be costly, it is worth in the long run when compare to how many times you have to do the same thing multiple times using a non-expert.

Become an expert

The world is very competitive and in order to compete effectively, you should become an expert in what you do. You can become an expert through extensive and continuous training. For example, if you want to become an accountant, don’t just settle being a bookkeeper. Get a degree in accounting and pass the professional designation exams. If you want to expand as an electrician, become a certified electrician. The good news is that in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Community College is offering certification for electricians. Many of you may have the hands on experience in your field which is good, but enrolled in some courses to get the necessary certification. Sooner or later, the minimum requirements for entry into a workplace or to be a successful bidder will be that the applicant should be certified in that field.

It pays to be an expert

It pays to be an expert. The good news is that once you obtain knowledge, no one get take it away from you. People can rob you of material things but they cannot rob you of your knowledge. Being an expert gives you competitive advantage. It also builds up your confidence level. Being an expert makes you more valuable to an organization and your charge out rate can be higher than a non-expert. As an expert, people will trust you and rely on you more.

It pays to use an expert

Too many times, you are making decisions and sometimes life changing decisions from individuals and things who are not experts. Based on my experience, it pays to use an expert despite the cost of doing so. Most times, the benefits outweigh the cost. For example, I have an accounting business, and because some individuals are proficient in QuickBooks, they call themselves accountants and people use them but when they need a loan from the bank, the bank asked these businesses for financial statements from a Certified Public Accountant. In the end, that business has to pay now a CPA to do the same work that they paid a non-expert to do.

Conclusion

I know everyone is trying to make ends meet but we need to ensure that we are an expert in what we do. An investment in equipping yourself with training is all that you need to do. Stop taking short cuts in life because you will be cutting short many benefits in your life.

Now I know some of you may argue and say that you use an expert and that expert was not as good as non-expert. There will be occasions when this happen but it will not happen often. Ensure you know who you are using for not everyone who says they are experts, are actually experts.

The discussion of the COVID 19 vaccine is a prime example. There are too many “experts” who think they know everything about the vaccine. Be very careful and rely on information from an expert.

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Introduction

Ecclesiastes 3:1 states that “there is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Unfortunately most of us consume the time we have in the day to make money and then we become so exhausted that we don’t have time to anything else.  If the word of God says there is a time for everything then why are we using the majority of the time to do one thing. I think all of us should engage in a hobby. I find that this life is full of stress and one way to relieve stress is through a hobby. However, I caution you not to let your hobby become an idolatry. According to Wikipedia, Idolatry is “the worship of an idol as though it were a God”. I know you may think that this is farfetched but many people are so caught up in what they do and what they have until it becomes a God to them without them intentionally doing it.  I encourage you to give the Glory in whatever hobby you chose. Remember the word of God says in Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Find a Hobby

I believe most of know the definition of hobby, however I don’t want to take this for granted so I will provide the Wikipedia meaning of hobby. “A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one’s leisure time.” I know some of you reading this may say you don’t have any leisure time and if you do, you have to spend it with your family. The bad news is that “all work and no play makes a dull boy” and the good news is that you can find a hobby that involves your family and work.

I used to be one of those individuals that spend all my time at work and by the time I get home, I am tired and have no time for anything else. While I still work a lot of hours, I have been able to balance my time with doing different activities other than work.

By now you know, one of my favourite hobbies is writing. While some are still wondering what my agenda is with my writing, I don’t care but I will say this that my writing is like therapeutic for me. It motivates me, it encourages me and it inspires me. It relieves the stresses of life. It allows me to get involve more in the community through my community articles and it allows me to get more involve in spreading the word of God through my Christian articles. Furthermore, I know that my writing also inspires, encourages and influences others.

You too should find a hobby so that you can reap similar benefits. I know that some of you are enjoying what you do in your job but you need to still find something to do in your leisure time. Finding a hobby that you and your partner or family can do together can also help improve your relationship as you can you use this time for hobby as time with your family.

During the lockdown, a lot of people started gardening as a hobby. I cannot tell what hobby to choose as that is something that you should select and something that you enjoy.

No Idolatry

Once you find your hobby, you may be so engaged and preoccupied with this hobby that you may neglect spending time in the word and with God where it reaches a point that your hobby becomes your God.

Never let your hobby become a God and do not sacrifice your time with God for your hobby.

Conclusion

Many of us are some in key positions that require a lot of our time. However, remember you can be replaced in those positons and trust me if anything happens to you (God forbid) you will be replaced. Therefore take some time out of your schedule and give yourself a break by engaging in a hobby. A hobby that will bring satisfaction and joy to your life. I will end with the same verse I started with. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

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Introduction

Kindness is one of the elements of the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians in 5:22-23. According to the dictionary, Kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous and support.” I know it is a challenge to be kind to someone especially after that individual has betrayed you, took advantage of you, used you and destroyed your character. I know you may be hurt by what others have done to you but I encourage you to “kill them with kindness.”

God wants us to be kind to one another and because God wants that, we should follow suit. Furthermore, there is no reward in being unkind to others. You may feel good about being revengeful towards others but whatever you do, it comes back to haunt you. You do not know the future as the popular phrase says “what goes around, comes around.” If you are kind to others, people will be kind to you and your generation. If you are unkind to others, more than likely, you may be confronted with unkindness from others. Therefore, let us be kind to one another so that we can create an environment of kindness that will be passed from one generation to the next generation.

Friendly

I know we have different personalities as some of us just do not seem to have a friendly personality. Now I don’t know if being friendly is a personality trait but it sure seems so. Do you being friendly towards others can impact the life of someone? People are experiencing all sorts of emotions but the moment you express friendliness towards them, you may just light up their day.

I try my best to be friendly towards others. I am always smiling with others. As I passed people, I always greet them even if I don’t know them. Make people feel good. If someone made a mistake, don’t be unkind to them and make them feel bad.

Let us practice to be friendlier. Start with a smile and then greet people each time you come into contact with them. As I mentioned in an article two years ago, friendliness is something that is widely practice in the Bahamas where it has become part of their culture.

Generous

Be generous towards others. If you are in position to help others, do so and you do not need to let the world know that you have been generous to others. You do not need to take your cameras to showcase your generosity.  Of course, I know there are some exceptions as acts of generosity are the means by which companies promote their community involvement and their businesses.

Being generous does not necessarily mean giving people money all of the time. You can be generous by sharing knowledge to others. If you information that you know can help others, share it with them. Do not keep all of the information to yourself. If you have access things at home such as clothes and food items, be generous by donating to others. Some of us have food items that ended up expiring because we have access and did not use them. Some of us have more clothes and shoes than what we need, be generous. Some of us are killing us with high prices for products and services. Be generous and consider reducing your prices and give others a discount.

Support

One of the major issues we face in our country is the lack of support for one another. Ironically, though, we don’t have a problem destroying and assassinating the characters of others.

There are many people and businesses who are trying different ventures and projects. Support them even if you are not in financial support to do so. You can support them by encouraging them with words. You can also support them by referring others to their business.  Stop discouraging people from pursuing what they want. Show up when they have events. Share their successes with others.

Conclusion

Be authentic with your kindness. If you are faking kindness, somehow, your body language will reveal that. If you have a problem smiling with others, you can certainly start by simply expressing greetings to others.

Kindness is a good thing. We should always want good things in our lives so we can start by getting good things by being kind to one another even if it just saying some beautiful words to others. Remember what goes around comes around.

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