Timothy sat beside Gaius, Tychicus and Trophimus in the Ship as they sailed to troas to go and wait for his Father in the Lord- Apostle Paul. He was still in Philippi with Luke the physician; they would join them at Troas in a few days after the days of unleavened bread. They had left in a hurry because there had been an attempt on Paul’s life in Greece.
Since they still had a long journey ahead of them and since he dint have to keep the company of his shipmates, timothy allowed himself to reminisce.
“Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One” Grandma Lois read to Timothy. She tenderly brushed Tim’s hair as she read the Torah to him, his mother, her daughter was in the kitchen cooking, she was Lois’s only daughter and had returned home with Timothy when his father had been forced to return to Greece t serve his father’s gods. Since their return, Lois had determined to pass on the belief of Yahweh to timothy just as she had done with Eunice, his mother.
Lois had been among the early converts and she had lost her husband during the persecution. She had raised Eunice and never remarried and had brought her up in the fear of Yahweh. She sensed that something special about Timothy, at twelve, he was so eager to learn all about Yahweh and he was often awed by the miracles He had performed. She was took great pleasure in telling him all the Bible stories. Perhaps, he would become a rabbi one day. She was so proud of Eunice, despite all she passed through, her faith never wavered.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” that’s how the children of Israel greeted each other. Lois explained to Timothy who was really smiling.
“Do you also know that all the first son of Israelites who opened the womb were to be named after God” Lois went on to say.
“Really? Grandma?” Timothy asked wide eyed.
“Yes my Love, really, that’s why named you Timothy, which means ‘Honoured by God’ “Eunice who was passing bye, chipped in, ruffling Timothy’s hair as she passed.
“Mum! Grandma just brushed my hair” Timothy told his mum and doged her hand from further ruffling his hair.
“Grandma will brush it again” Eunice said
Lois winked at Timothy as she brushed his hair again
“So Grandma, I am the male who opened the womb?” Timothy asked
“Yes, Timothy, you are. And we dedicated you to the Lord, never waver in the Lord, be strong in Him and in the power of his Might, always love and fear the Lord and never forget your heritage” grandma Lois said tenderly.
And that had been the anchor of Timothy’s life; he had kept the faith even after he had left home and moved to Derbe and Lystra. An after a few years, he het Apostle Paul who took an instant liking to him especially after the brethren had spoken well of him. Apostle Paul had had to circumcise him because of his Greek heritage, and he had become his disciple since, doing ministry together along with other brethren. He had come to regard him as his father and Paul referred to him as son.
Timothy was brought back from his reverie by the sharp jolt of the ship signifying they were at Troas and had to disembark.
My Sister and I were home this morning and we heard someone comment on TV that 50% of the youths in Nigeria are unemployed. This then got us talking, are these youths, really unemployed because there are no jobs or they are unemployed because they are unemployable? By unemployable, what we mean is a lot of Nigerian youths do not have a presentable packaging when they are seeking employment, they lack spunk and carriage, you come for an interview and you're late, not properly dressed or without an idea of what the organization you are seeking employment from is about! Even you yourself, wouldn't want to employ yourself. Yet, we find some people however even when employed lack the key skills that they require to remain employed. We see lots of cases of people who are not diligent with their work, they resume late, are never on their seats, fight their co workers, dress shabbily, pile up their work saying after all, I can't kill myself, (in my Sister's words, you actual...
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