“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive”. Genesis 50:19-20 (NKJV)
The great British statesman Winston Churchill said “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”. In life, it is not so much what you go through; it is how you go through it, and your attitude in the midst of it that makes the difference. So then your problem is not the problem, it is how you go through the issue, which is the problem.
Joseph had been sold by his brothers into a foreign land, has been through any and every cruel thing imaginable. By some divine orchestrations, he becomes the most powerful man on the surface of the earth and his brothers come to him begging for food. He has opportunity to revenge the cruel treatment they subjected him to, but alas, he looks at them and tells them not to be afraid, because they meant it for evil but God turned it round for good. This is a right attitude.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is not what people take away from you that makes or mars your life, it is what you do with what is left that determines your destiny. You have no control over what people do and how they treat you, but you control how you respond to it. My spiritual father Dr. Frank Ofosu-Appiah told me that you can’t prevent birds from flying over your head, but you sure can stop them from making their nest in your hair.
My friends, wherever you go, it doesn’t matter what the weather may be, just make sure you always bring your sunshine with you. So while it is winter outside, it could be summer in your heart. It’s all about attitude. I always hear people say, “He/she made me mad”. NO! Nobody makes you mad. People do things to you, but you choose your attitude or better still, you choose your response to it.
Your attitude will determine your altitude. Walk into everyday with an attitude that it’s going to be a good and a great day. If you don’t think every day is a good day, try missing one. Every day may not be good but there’s something good in everyday.
So what is it going to be this week, are you going to decide to make it a great and good week or the opposite? I hope you choose the former.
I will leave you all for now, if we don’t meet again, I will see you at the dinner table in Papa’s house.
Rev. Kingsley Ayesu.