Midnight Motivations and Musings # 78

May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

Now and again, I read articles that people write or listen to people where they sound as if there’s nothing good about their lives.

I have been privy to desperate cries of help and despair, but what saddens me is not the desperation, what saddens me is when the despairing soul feels so hopeless that they’ve given up hope on themselves, that no amount of counsel and reasoning seems to penetrate.

No one is guaranteed a breezy life that’s not laden with struggles, for it’s out of our tests that we obtain our testimonies.

The truth is that no one can walk through individual tribulations for another. No two people have the same mantle or message, but what they can do is to hold your hand while you wade through the mess.

Sometimes, you may not even be fortunate to find someone to hold on to. You hold on to God. He’s the ultimate fortress, refuge and present help in the time of need.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Brand me whole as only you can

That the entire score of me

Knows nothing but the fullness of you.

Uncategorized · Writing

Are You Laughing Yet?…Writers Quote Wednesday.

April 14, 2016November 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap medicine. George Gordon Byron

The writers quote Wednesday’s prompt for this week is laughter and I looked up that lovely quote above.

I love laughing. In my opinion, robust laughter is like a song to the ears that the soul dances to. I like being around people who have a good sense of humour and can make me laugh and who equally laugh at themselves. They don’t nitpick and take offence easily. Staying around grouches can be bone wearing and grey. At some point, we would all die, but while we are alive let’s live it with laughter on our lips.

Sometimes, especially during the weekends, I deliberately go on YouTube to look up comedians and enjoy a good half hour of silliness 🙂

When we moved here, I was initially taken aback by the number of serious, stoic faces that dotted the horizon. I even wrote a poem about it which languished in my draft. Some looked outrightly like people who had sucked on sour lemons as if it would hurt them to smile while some wore a grimace like they had a bad case of gas.

Over time, I started distinguishing them by their nationalities and realised that some of the tightness of the faces are due to upbringing and religion. Of robbing the minds of reasons to be joyful and to see a fellow human in suspicion or disdain.

Some reminded me of the staunch hard-nosed Church deaconesses whose lips are perpetually pursed in criticism. Some religious tenets sap some humans of the joy of living. Their belief that your hard faced stoic stance shows you as a serious Muslim or Christain or whatever, is so wrong. Laughter or smiling is beautiful.

No one expects anyone to go around looking like a clown, but life can be taken seriously without looking morbid about it.

Since we are all going to die anyway, I think I would look better with a smile on my face as I sign off on the last day in mirth.

Everyday People · Life

Every Day Beautiful People…# 13

April 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

‘Never limit yourself because of others limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.’ – Jemison

#You shouldn’t sell yourself short.

Haiku · Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Exposed rumps…Ronovan writes weekly poetry haiku challenge

April 5, 2016March 6, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

Phew! Ronovan gave us a pair of tough nuts to deal with this week ‘fray and veiled.’

Here’s my little take on it below.

The veiled nun admonished in soft tones.
The ladies wore skimpy skirts,
Too short, fray edges, and rumps exposed!

The Daily Post · Uncategorized

Beloved…

April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

Beloved, You are
Precious to me.
He said
To
ALL of us!

Precious The Daily Post prompt

Humans · Uncategorized

Everyday Beautiful People #3…

March 31, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

‘Irrespective of RACE, RELIGION and GEOGRAPHIC location, under the layers of our skin, lies the same human.’ ©Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Blog · Featured Blogs

Featured Posts #24…Let me share your post links.

March 26, 2016March 26, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha

Today’s featured blogs are:

Go and don’t tell or go tell Do you keep quiet when you should be telling? It’s worth finding out.

Preventing social media from ruining your relationship It’s a fact that social media is affecting relationships, but there are ways to handle it if you are wise. Explore!

Ties that bind in Oba’s borrowed words below…Hmm! I won’t say much. Find out yourself 🙂

The feeling of hurt and anger overwhelmed her as she responded to her husband.

I know he loves me,so why do I feel rejected by his not wanting to hold my hands?

We’ve forgotten how to be human: From Jill I quote below:

But for a time it seemed that we were on the path to becoming a kinder, more gentle society; a society that was trying to overcome prejudices and see others as different, but not inferior. But today that trend is reversing. Today we are regressing back to a society that views all who do not look, act, speak, and think like us as being somehow inferior. And that is just wrong.

What do I have to say about this read? Gosh! I think it’s a pamphlet every adult, parent, teacher, leader etc should read. Simple in it’s words, but teaches a thousand lessons.

Scuffle on the balcony : If you’ve been following this tale, you must be hooked by now. Mel always ends it on a cliff hanger that leaves you looking for all the answers. My, my. Excellent writing.

I need these five items If you were stuck, what would you take with you?

Please visit their blogs and say hello. A few minutes may gain you a friendly support.

‘Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

P.S. Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.’

Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation · Lifestyle

Why Not? Are You Too Much Of A Man?…

January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha39 Comments

Is it possible to wake up and express a heartfelt gratitude for everything, without a ‘but?’

Some gentleman openly made a scornful statement, asking why we should have to express our thankfulness and gratitude for all to see? Why couldn’t we just be thankful in our minds?

I thought it through and my wonder is, maybe he feels it’s not manly enough to be seen doing something as sissy as being grateful or thankful? Who knows.

Anyway, to this retort I say, why not? We talk about virtually anything and everything under the Sun. So why not gratitude and thankfulness? Must we save it only for the day of Thanksgiving, on 24 November?

Is it because the word carries the connotations of Religion or Christian tenets?

Well you are wrong! I think it would be wise to remember that the state of gratitude is a life tenet, which does not respect any doctrine, dogma, race, religion, age or sex.

Thankfulness is a state of being that is the mother of all virtues. When we are thankful, we have less to grumble about. When we are thankful, it makes the little that we have enough. When we are thankful, we are not going to be envious and envy breeds wickedness.

We don’t have to look far to find things to be grateful for: family, food, shelter, friends, clothing, seasons, life, nature, beauty, truth, salvation. The list could go on for decades.

A heart of gratitude opens doors of love, peace and plenty.

Today, I am grateful for life and good health. It’s really a privilege and nothing can truly compare to the promises that I have in God.

A grateful heart will always find satisfaction. May your heart find a grace for gratitude. Like the Bible tells us, ‘God inhabits the praise of His People.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Musings · Quotes For You · The Daily Post

The Last Supper….

December 19, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

If ever there is a painting that I have stared at with so much intent all my life is ”The Last Supper’‘ painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.

During my growing years, we had a framed copy of the last supper which hung at the dining area of my parents house and it was there for as long as I can remember.

I always wondered what the conversation around the table would have been like.

How had Jesus felt knowing that his betrayer was there supping with him while maintaining his camouflage as a disciple?

Would I not have promptly confronted Judas for his betrayal? Then again, I am not Christ.

The second painting is ‘‘The Crucifixion” and I couldn’t stand to look at it when I was much younger.

I could never stand the thought of such wicked, torturous and the slow death of nailing someone to the cross alive and watching them bleed drop by drop until their last breath.

As I grew older, I realized that indeed the biblical quote that ‘‘the heart of man is desperately wicked’‘ is so, so true.

The Daily Post prompt The Artist Eye

Is there a painting or sculpture you’re drawn to? What does it say to you? Describe the experience. (Or, if art doesn’t speak to you, tell us why.)

Image courtesy: Wikipedia.org

Creative Writing · Hope · Life · Poetry/Poems · Social Issues · Writing · Writing 101

May I Share With You?…

December 11, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha41 Comments

LIVING FREE…

May I live
Unafraid to breathe
Free from a choke-hold
That becomes a stronghold
May I live
Unafraid to live
Clinging to my expectations
With feral desperation

SHARING FREELY…

May I share space
Unafraid of being encased
Free from condemnation of race
That becomes a strong base
Purple, White, Olive, Black and every hue within
May I share space
Knowing that we are first a human race
…And all blood are red in this place.

BELIEVE FREELY…

May I speak of belief
Unafraid and in relief
Free from contentious eyes of disbelief
That becomes thresholds of grief
May I wear my mask of belief
Understanding that to achieve
Peace would be a welcome reprieve
…Which we must seek to retrieve.

LOVING FREELY…

May I love you
Unafraid to be bound to you
Free from censors of broken whispers
That becomes harbingers of cold shivers
May I love freely my love
Unafraid to expose my naked bust
Knowing that in you lies my trust
Encased in the warm embrace of your love.