(1962 -2017)
1 . My dad said ," I was going to be great one day"
My father never had a problem with me ordering a kiddies meal whenever we went to Wimpy for breakfast when I was a young boy but suddenly one day when I was 9 years old ,he did. He told the waiter to bring me the same meal that he ordered . He stopped me from eating with my hands and taught me how to eat with a folk and knife . I struggled through and eventually quit .
He looked at me and said , " Boy you need to start eating with a folk and knife because you are going to become great . You are going to dine with kings and queens. I can feel it everytime I look at you speak to people. You have it in you to be great ".
Those words did something to me so amazing that I finished my food using a fork and knife.
Fathers reading this , do yourself a great favour and start affirming your children, it goes a long way and support them .
2. Leaders eat last , last is always plenty
My father would buy himself clothes after he had brought us all clothes. He made sure that we had the best he could afford .
When I went varsity, my dad's words of counsel to me were ," Deny yourself butter on both sides of your bread . Serve God in men and God will provide for you". Come to think of it, I never went to bed hungry in varsity. God took care of me abundantly as I kept being a blessing to others. I passed my modules effortlessly and never got mugged or lost property that belonged to me. There was a hedge around me and I felt it everyday.
"A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed".
- Proverbs 11:25
Have you ever had someone release a blessing into your life because of your generosity? Make room for more by wholeheartedly and joyfully sharing with others.
3. I wanted justice but my dad was merciful
My father had a tuckshop tarven a few years back before he got saved . His cashier used to steal money from him resulting to him not being available to cover the costs at times and he would have to use his personal money to buy new stock. For years I insisted that my father should get rid of his employee but my father would say ," That boy is an orphan and he knows nothing about what he is doing but one day he will ".
I remember when my dad got sick and I had to take over his management. I experienced the same thing with his employee and wanted to get rid of him to a point that I told him that ," one day , my dad will leave us , I will shut the shop up and you will suffer because you are failing to think for yourself as you keep stealing from the very hand that feeds you" .
A few months later that year, my dad passed on and reality hit him hard. I think of this story and I realize that my dad showed me God's love for us .
He is slow to anger , merciful to the end and hopeful daily that we should come to repentance.
4. Doing business with God Almighty
My father taught me never to accept compensation from anybody I give a lift to. He always said , " You prepared for the trip right so why take it ? Don't you know that right there you could be entertaining angels ? Aren't you serving God in relieving that very person of their care? Will not God do to you as you have done to them ? ".
This is not supposed to make sense to your flesh . Whoever you give into , you ultimately partake in their blessing even if they never get to walk into the fullness of it.
When I selfless give to you , be it knowledge ,wisdom or whatever assistance. Right in the season where God blesses you, I too partake. It's a principle and God honors principle.
Whatever you do to men , God Almighty will do multipled back to you . Once you establish an altar in all men to serve God Almighty - Your entire generation and generations to come will be blessed because of your love for God.
I was very attached to my father . He was my best friend, brother and partner in everything. When he passed on . I was broken apart , hated and blamed God so much until one day in my silence, a voice spoke to about the idols in my life ranging from possessions, money and my late father. At that very moment I repented and detached myself from everything . Each day of my life I teach myself that, "I have access to things , they are God-given for specific purposes and I don't own anything ". That daily meditation has made it easy for me to give , share and to keep my joy . Whatever you are attached to will depress you the day you lose it . Idolatry has made many people sick .
Are there any idols in your life that are distracting you from serving God Almighty wholeheartedly?
5. Build a good name by doing good to God through people
In the years I have seen my father's good name grant me favor with men everywhere. "Umfana ka baba Sithole, umfana ka Chief and umfana ka mabhomza". My father's name got me car parts , contacts, help and opportunities far more than my own strength could. He planted the tree , I got to enjoy the fruits and to plant more .
King David sent men to look for Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son that he might show him kindness because of his father's loyal friendship to him.
"A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold". - Proverbs 22:1
Through what you do to God through people, your descendants either will be cursed or blessed. Your name must carry weight because of your good works of faith. Following Jesus Christ not only builds your character but also helps you build a good name that will benefit those you leave behind . Don't be selfish, do good to people.
6. God Almighty answered my prayer
My dad took me to church for 16 years but never entered a church and that used to frustrate me as I had to represent my family.
One time I didn't want to go to church anymore as I was fed up to the core. He had his way around me strategically and God dealt with my ignorance.
2017 , New year . We wrote everything that we asked God to do - one of them was for the life of my father to get saved ;he knew God , He prayed to Him but he wasn't saved..
22 January 2017 , my father said " Guys today I am going to church with you " . You don't know how that felt . On that day , my father got saved and had a covenant with God that His household shall serve the Lord.
He never missed a prayer meeting. The way He prioritized God and how he shared the Gospel to all his former company is unbelievable only for him to rest approximately this week last year.
7. I didn't defend the church , I presented God Almighty
For 16 years of my life , my father would drop my mother and siblings at the church's gate. My father was a good man , a people's person and a critical thinker . When I would evangelise to him , his objections not to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour were 100% right.
His objections :
1. The church as it stands is not what it is supposed to be . Your pastors have turned the church into a cult , businesses and empires for themselves . I would be a fool to join such rubbish.
2. He would make practical examples of man of God who would contradicted their public declarations about the Gospel .
My Resolution :
Let's take out church and men of God from this equation and let's talk about you and God. Clearly you can't profess to be a man without sin right? You know perfectly well that not even one righteous (in right standing with God by faith) never sins right? As much you have judged the church and its servants at that measure , if God too judges you at that measure? Would you make it to eternal life ?
Abraham, Joseph, Jacob had their faith story with God , what's yours ? And if you believe in God then God is love and love forgives everything right ?
I am not inviting you to play church or to join misrepresenting the great commission, I am inviting you to reconcile to God , to walk with Him as your friend , to be a disciple of God's Kingdom , to write your conscious faith story with God , I am inviting you to tap into the fullest potential of your life's purpose.
Exactly on the 12 January 2017 , my dad got saved. I sowed the Word and God did the rest.
That's how my dad got saved. I learnt over the years to reason with a man at his/her current level of comprehending God Almighty..
8."Do it for generations to come my boy "
I remember calling my dad during my second year in varsity to tell him that I am dropping out of varsity because I had found myself , I had found God's agenda for my life . He understood me and ask me to finish the course . He said, " Do it for generations to come my boy , it will be reference to them that they are also capable". I understood him and progressed through to graduate.
Reminds me of my mother's colleague who said to me , " Njabulo, this is bigger than you " after I was interviewed on my book " Words left unsaid ".
One time my young sister Khanyisile came back from school and came straight to me to say ," imagine , my friend saw you on google".
The young boys from different households in my neighbourhood call me "Malume Njabulo. They look at me with much admiration when I walk down the street .
I want to look back at my life in my old age to smile at the difference I was and have made in the lives of others. Every single day, it my goal to live outside of myself. Jesus Christ's selflessness inspires me so much that when I think about it , I cry . As long as all heaven winks at me then I am fulfilled, joy and peaceful .
9.What a friend I had in my father
When I got in trouble whether with the law , my mom and whoever it is . I was always reported to my dad . In front of the cops, my mom and whosoever it was , he would shout at me and I would apologise.
On that someday, my dad and I would take a drive , laugh at what I did, imitate people's reactions over the case and he would advise me how to not get caught next time.
10."I am building a man in this boy"
Everytime my dad and i had an argument about something . I would run to my mom to mediate the situation.
Since my dad had a 6th stroke on the left side of his body , he required my help most of the time as I was the strongest to lift him up. So one day he refused to eat, bath and became harsh towards me . My heart was really broken . As always I ran to my mom to report. When my mom spoke to him , my dad replied, " My wife please stay out of this , I am building a man in that boy".
I had to face him and help him even though he had hurt me unapologetically. He called me privately and said ," My boy , one day your mom and I won't be there to mediate on your behalf, you need to learn fast to talk to the man and not about the man. A man's actions maybe painful but you need to address your source of pain man-to-man. Allow nobody to intimidate you especially when it comes to addressing your grievances no matter how powerful they are . You need a clear heart to serve well otherwise your worship will be directed to the devil especially in your anger ,resentment and hatred. In that sense , I apologize. I needed to create in a man in you, my boy".
11. Pay the man!
Every business person that knew my dad reckon that he was a good payer and he would always go the extra mile when he commits to buy from any of them.
My dad always said ," Why is it that we blacks don't negotiate discounts at shops owned by white and sometimes Indian men instead we wait for their discounts but when it comes to our own black people, we negotiate prices to a point of nothing for the labourer or producer thus he delievers poor service standards because efficiency and excellence has price too".
If we want good products and services , be willing to pay for them with less negotiation thus the seller increases profit and can expand.
13. "Take extra always"
My dad was a pioneer of true generosity. There is not a time where he brought one thing . He always thought of someone else even he didn't know the person. His philosophy was " God doesn't give abundances for one man's satisfaction". Sometimes he would hide his acts of charity from my mother especially when he helped people my mother wasn't fond off at that particular time .
One time he said to me , " I could have been very rich if I ignored the cries and the needs of others but I am more richer now that I cared and shared with others".
I never went into an exam room without extra sweets, pens ,rubbers , pencils and rulers not to borrow others but to give them when they asked . And every day there was someone who needed.
When you understand why the provision came to you . You will find fulfilment in the purpose.