While growing up and navigating through life, many make various personal choices without the future in mind. Sometimes some wrongly made choices bite hard in the mid-life. These are some of the things one should be mindful of to avoid the stories that touch the heart much later in life.
Opportunities missed earlier in life
When one is younger, there are several doors that open for people and they misuse the opportunity only to regret in years to come. So many allow these chances to slip through their hands due to laziness, carelessness, fear and even pride only to remember it with nostalgia in the future. Many years ago, I had a friend who was the very in first successful set that won the American Visa Lottery while in the village. It was such a big deal and the news spread like harmattan fire. But then, the celebrated winner lazily missed all opportunities, details and dates for various requirements following the win. He relaxed in the village waiting for America to come to him. He waited till eternity and eventually the visa lottery expired in his hand. There are so many people who regret the courses they should have pursued in school, the job opportunities that came their way, poor conduct and midnight candles they refused to burn. Some again regret the tasks they refused to take, life’s seriousness neglected, lies told, time wasted, upcoming men and women they would have married etc. So many want the hand of clock to turn back so they could grab such lost opportunities now. Alas! It is rather too late.
Walking down the aisle
Marriage is a very important decision in one’s life. One should know the reason and importance of marrying the right person. If the wrong reason becomes the focus due to physical attraction, good looks of the man or woman, wealth, poor communication, lack of respect for both parties etc; then issues like depression, physical and emotional abuse, regret, shame, bitterness and eventual separation will definitely define the mid-life years. Do not marry out of pressure or copy your peers. Walk with God, listen to elders and make a wise marital choice.
Aborted pregnancy/pregnancies
For both men and women, the abortion done in the past may still be hurting and haunting many people one way or the other. As a young fellow, maybe a lady has been put in a family way; or a young boy had gone haywire to eat unripe apple; the result normally becomes unwanted pregnancy. Then both of them become scared. The next quick option and action would be abortion at the moment so all would be free from the scandal of unwanted pregnancy. But later in life when the chips are down, that singular mistake might crash one’s whole wall. When so many men and woman look back today, they wish they had kept the baby or babies they aborted because the children are now needed. From the grapevine, I heard a story of a lady who was a regular candidate for abortion as a young beautiful lady. When she settled down in marriage, the issue of bearing children became a big challenge. The lady cried out her heart and confessed to whoever cared to listen how she wasted many lives.
Relationships destroyed
On a good day, one gets married to his and her heartthrob. The first few months become rosy, romantic and all fun. Shortly after, the scenario changes and the good old times becomes a memory. With that, unfaithfulness, infidelity and extra-marital affairs become the other of the day. The spouses now face different directions. One party is ready for reconciliation while the other is not. The children follow the advice of their friends and the whole family turns upside down. Relationships destroyed are not only in marriages, but between relatives, in-laws, colleagues, neighbours and even in Christendom. Many years after, the culprit regrets his or her foolish decision that destroyed the good relationship he or she had with others. The person will also realize the damage he or she has done to both the children, family, friends, body of Christ and their future.
Name you defamed
The value of a name is an ancient landmark to most people. While raising children, most mothers would always ask “Do you know who you are? That, in essence means there is a name to be respected and protected. But the building of such names starts as a growing child. There was one time the daughter of a governor was found drunk at a night club and it was not funny for the family. One’s legacy is the total of his or her actions as one grows from childhood into adulthood. At times, it is difficult for some people to answer the question “What would you be remembered for? When such questions are thrown to old people, sometimes, it becomes heavy because the younger years are now in a regrettable situation. These questions are inevitable now: what is your reputation, what would you be remembered for? What should be written at your grave when the final bell rings? What are you leaving behind because biographies are written about how such individuals lived their lives? When some people look back and see the mud they have thrown on their own name, the shame they attracted and the little value they added to the world, regret becomes the watch word.
Parents you despised
Today, we live in a world where children seem to rise above their parents. They call themselves Generation Z’ popularly known as GenZ which is all rubbish to me. In life standard practice remains standard practice. No matter how it is looked at, their lifestyle, thinking and opinion can never be greater than what the Bible says in Galatians 5:6: “Children, honour your parents so your days will be long.” So, for any GenZ who seems to be greater than the word of God, best wishes to you. So many are in utter regret for the contempt shown to their parents when they were young. Some are operating without their parents’ blessing and life has been so difficult for them.
Many young people see their parents as old-fashioned, what do they know, what level of education do they have, how exposed and accomplished are they? I hear you people. The time you are wasting on the screen (television and phones), wrong friends and relationships, laziness, giving excuses and pursuing meaningless things, you will never get it back in life.
But truth be told, your parents are your parents no matter how poor, how uneducated, how stupid etc. Worthy of note is the fact that the God that created you through them did not make any mistake. God saw their weaknesses and made you come through them. Do not separate from your parents, no matter what; if you do, at a later stage, life and nature will pay you back.
Wealth thrown away and bridges burnt
Young men and women, are you riding on the wheels of fantasy? Have you been blessed with rich financial success and chose to live in recklessness? Live in night clubs, wasteful shopping and every expensive asoebi is a must have. Money meant for landed properties end up in comfort and fashion competition. So many people will always tell stories of ‘when I was comfortable, I used to be rich. So, what happened to that comfort and wealth? You can maintain consistency of the comfort zone with wisdom and investment. From today, start to invest your money, widen your revenue stream, make that money work for you and keep it safe to take care of your later years. Leave an inheritance for your loved ones so that you will never say “I wish I knew better.”
God you disowned
At a certain age and stage in one’s life, wisdom comes with it. Then with experiences of life, God becomes more real as life is seen in a more meaningful way. But don’t wait to get older to start enjoying a relationship with God. Know God when you are young, build your future with God. Don’t be a young rebel who runs back to God when age catches up with you.
Dearest young ones, time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. Know it today that to realize the value of a sister or brother, ask someone who does not have one. To realize the value of nine months, ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn. To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of 10 years, ask a newly divorced couple. To realize the value of four years, ask a graduate. To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has survived an accident.
Again, time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have.