Half bread, someone says "...is better than none". I tell you my friend, I'd rather choose to hope for the best than to settle for less than what I deserve. Just a quick recap from where we started from in the part 1 of this post; my theory of crossroads is that a man or woman at a crossroad can only choose one of 7 decisions available to him or her. He/she can either choose to go forward or retract backwards; move up or down; drift left or right; or be stagnant at the same position.In this part two, I will be talking about looking up or looking down.
Permit me to term looking up as 'Hope' and looking down as settling for less than you deserve because you have chosen to give up hope. I would like to define Hope. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines HOPE in three interesting ways: (i) to cherish a desire with anticipation (ii) to desire with expectation of obtainment; and (iii) to expect with confidence. Looking at this definition, you would agree with me that only a brave heart hopes. Losers don't have hope. Only people with a winning attitude hope. That is, if your hope is failing, you are tending towards the losing side. Miracles don't happen to those who have given up hope. It comes to those who against hope yet believe in hope!
Beloved, I beseech you therefore, should you have to choose between looking up and looking down at any crossroad you may find yourself, choose wisely. According to Thomas Mertin, "The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little." But I would like to plead with you, should you ever be tempted to settle for too little, think again because, "The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for" - Maureen Dowd. To settle for less than you deserve is to choose to be on the losing side. In football, we always say it is not over until you hear the final whistle. I have had the opportunity of watching several soccer matches where deficits of 4goals are turned around in the last few minutes of the game. The difference between the team that lose such a match and those who end up coming back to win is a desire to not settle for less. A sight on what is against reality.
I love that third definition of hope by the Merriam Webster dictionary, " to expect with confidence". No wonder the bible (a book I love so much) says, "do not cast away your confidence, for it has a great reward". When you choose to look up at any crossroad of life, you are saying, I am confident, I am hopeful, the best is yet to come, I will not give in, I will not settle for less because I deserve more. Half bread is not better, full bread comes to those who choose to hope with confidence. I enjoin you to look up today and you will soon have something to show for it.
Thank you for reading.
- Le Dynamique Professeur
I think the three definitions of hope are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was just struck by the phrase 'only a brave heart hopes'. May God help me (us) to be brave in the face of anything, basking in the knowledge that He will see me (us) through.
Lovely post LDP! Thank you.
Thanks Imisi. I must agree, its a wonderful comment and it did move me the moment I set my eyes on it too :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I saw that Maureen Doud quote last week and I couldn't but marvel at its proven veracity. Seeing it again now just says "#Gbam" in my head!
ReplyDeleteGreat work, LDP!
Thanks Kitkat. Glad you enjoyed it this time. haha
ReplyDeleteGod bless you :)
ooh, i honestly enjoyed this post!..nice one!! :) i wld never ever settle 4 less
ReplyDeleteOre, thank you o. We have God to give all the glory!
ReplyDeleteHi Ma, thanks for dropping by. Though a busy Easter period but very productive. Happy Easter to you too ma.
ReplyDeleteLily JOhnson, is this you?! Long time... I love those words of urs. Happy Easter to you too friend :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ma, I agree with you. "If lose everything, don't lose hope". That's what's dropped in my spirit right now. God bless you ma :)
ReplyDeleteAmen! U are welcome and thanks for dropping by. Been a while. Happy Easter :)
ReplyDeletei really needed this today. thank you for inspiring me. God bless you. No more half bread for me :)
ReplyDeleteNext only to God and Love, Hope is probably the most precious thing we've got going in the world.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post LDP. No one should ever settle for less in life. Go for the best and if you fail, you would at least know that you tried. Hope you had a great Easter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this uplifting post! I hope you had a great Easter weekend? All the best.
ReplyDeleteThis is great motivation sir and i'm enjoying it...wooow.One of the many catches: 'That is, if your hope is failing, you are tending towards the losing side. Miracles don't happen to those who have given up hope. It comes to those who against hope yet believe in hope!'.
ReplyDeleteKeep it coming great man!