JB: Refined by Fire

When my mum visited her rapidly aging father almost two decades ago, he was adamant about serving her drinks by himself. In his characteristic "old soldier" authoritative demeanor, the septuagenarian got his way amidst protests from all and sundry. Halfway through the drink-up, my grandfather picked up a crown cork and spoke to his daughter, "Adwoa, do you know how this was made?" He begun. "It was made by passing metal through a very hot furnace. The heat from the fire is what helps to mould it. It only becomes useful after it has gone through the fire and undergone polishing. If you are going to be useful in life, you will have to go through fire." Now, the reason for his tenacious insistence to serve the drinks had become obvious. He had a lesson to teach. My grandfather's wisdom is wisdom for all of us. If you are going to become fit to function in your purpose, you will go through the fires of life. If you are going to qualify to be at the top of anything, like the crown cork is, there will be hard times that will make you feel like quitting. But you can only best the competition if you are refined by the fires of life. You can only fulfill destiny if you are moulded by pain and stretched by suffering. Don't give up when the going gets tough. Don't give up when the heat is searing at your flesh. Don't give up when you are confronted with obstacles. Go through the mill. Submit yourself to the pain of discipline. Submit yourself to the pain of diligent application. Many people quit their dreams because they want to avoid the pain of the fire. May that never be said of you. You are being moulded to serve at the top of your game!!!

 
Written by:
Jeremiah Buabeng
Executive President/Lead Consultant at Matrix Institute