What are you doing with what's in your hands?

“Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit!”

― Erick S. Gray

The above quote really spoke to me, it means we make things what they want to be. We can multiply the value of what God has given us and we should. God blesses you to become a blessing.

If you are married, your spouse can be soul mate or flat mate, your house can be a home. Whether you're single, a student, a lawyer ...whatever. You have the choice of changing that into something more than just what it is at face value. The best way to do this is to think of how  you can use what is in your hands to bless others. I am not really referring to material things, it could be your experiences, your marriage, your childhood, your career whatever it is that you are knowledgeable about and you feel God has blessed. When he gives you a gift, it's because he trusts you with it. He hopes you turn around and do something powerful with it. If you withhold a blessing, it will be given through others.

An example is Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. They were both black models at a time that there were no other black super models, both from broken homes, they were basically given almost the same things beauty, black skin and an opportunity to reach the world. Naomi was scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognizable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world. Her personal life is widely reported, particularly her relationships with prominent men—including boxer Mike Tyson, Badr Jafar and actor Robert De Niro—and several highly-publicised convictions for assault.

Tyra Banks, former American model, author and television personality. She first became famous as a model, appearing twice on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and working for Victoria's Secret as one of their original Angels. Banks is the creator and host of the UPN/The CW reality television show America's Next Top Model, co-creator of True Beauty, and was the host of her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world's most influential people by Time magazine.

It is not my intention to unfairly compare these two women and I am not in anyway endorsing Tyra as the ideal role model. My intention is for us to observe how she took all her experience in the modelling industry, thought of ways she could help other girls who in the face of self esteem issues and other issues, wanted to become successful models also. Obviously she has made a lot of money and increased her popularity in the process but that is a byproduct of the value she has added to entertainment and young women. 

She once said "I'm trying to build a strong business. I want to create new stars, new shows and new products for my audience and create a legacy that outlives me. There are so many other ways I want to reach women besides doing a talk show"

In the Bible one could sight King Saul and King David who were both given the opportunity to become Kings. What are you doing with your experience and your opportunities? we are not all going to start a talk show or rule a nation but even in your daily interactions with people, the opportunity to be a blessing presents itself in many ways. as we sincerely look inward and prayerfully submit ourselves in service to God we will discover that purpose and ways we can turn our own five fish and two loaves of bread into a meal for thousands.

 "I would rather have it said, ‘He lived usefully,’ than, ‘He died rich."— Benjamin Franklin (letter to his mother, 1750)

Ijeoma Olujekun.