Through the eyes of a toddler - Healing.

'Train a child in the way they should go and he/she will not depart from it'. WORD!

As a rule, when someone is hurt or unwell in the family, we would first of all pray and then rest or take whatever medication is necessary until the virus/ailment disappears.

Consequently, if my son (Tio) sees me squinting or grimacing, he would ask " Mum, are you okay?" No matter my response, his first response is to pray. Usually one-liners like 'Father God, let my mum's pain go away, amen.' He will then come back repeatedly to ask if whatever ails me is gone and then he tap dances when I eventually say yes.

Recently, his little sister(Sunshine) had a cut on her finger. It was no big deal but you know, being kids from my loins, there was a lot of drama. Tio, went over to Sunshine and prayed his customary one-liner.

The next day, Sunshine says to Tio. 'my pain is still here.' Tio replies, 'oh, I forgot to tell you, God will take the pain away when we pray, it's just that it takes a loooooooooong time.'

My toddler had learnt something so many of us never learn; sometimes it takes a while but it will come. Wait!

So far

People are different. Fact. People use different words differently. Fact. People also use the same words a lot if they have kept each other's companies or went to the same school. Fact.

Most of my friends from my secondary school days will identify with 'morning shows the day'. It somehow works it's way into our conversations and we do it just like it was done back then.

'Nincompoop' is another word commonly used in a particulary company I keep, a company of people who once knew a certain old French lecturer.Thinking of him alone, elicits a smile.

There are however, two words I cannot stand. Really, they just irritate me when used in pleasant speech. The words are, so far. Why do people use so far? You ask how things are going, they reply, 'very well, so far'.

They are asked to lead a prayer session. They begin, 'thank you Lord because nothing bad has happened to us so far'. Some even update their facebook status with something like 'this year has been good so far.'

Why so far? Do they not know that so far connotes impending doom? Like you are half surprised things are going well or are half expecting things to go sour. So far, reduces the weight of whatever comes before it and I think should not be used in this way.

What do you think?

Changes to the A-Z of marriage series.

I know, you probably were expecting H. It will come. For now, though, all the A-Z series will be zapping from here.

They will be back one after the other in about 3weeks/month or so after they have been featured on www.234NEXT.com/ so bookmark that site and follow the series from there.

I will still be blogging here too so keep checking in.

Here's the link to my first post on NEXT: Be kind to everyone.