The First Born Principle.

 Pastor Poju said

"As first born, you must bear on your back the scars from your siblings and family members"

This is so true..

And it isn't limited to just biological first horns.. Every organization, or group, whether group of friends or business partners has a first born...that one person who breaks out first, the trailblazer who shows the others the path...

Almost always, they're the proverbial rejected stone..they're the lab rats, experimental guinea pigs, the ones who have a foretaste of what is to come..

Even in families, the biological first born might not be the positional first born.. Sometimes they intertwine and integrate in one person, but sometimes the 3rd born child might be the first born. It's an office one occupies - and one of the criteria is being able to bear the weight of criticism.

Usually, there's this force, something unseen, a fire on the inside that forces them to take contrarian paths, that pushes them constantly beyond the bounds of their comfort zones, that nudges them, or in some cases, shoves them to rock the boat..

I can't explain it but when I see people who have it, I know... You can sense it, it's like a fragrance, like some form of humming energy that refuses to be silenced..who

 form of intensity that will not be quenched.

It's both a nature and a nurture thing..

In my case, I was born a congenial, easy going child who sought adult approval...  This intensified as I grew up embedded in insecurities because of several factors but changed when I began to encounter people and materials that "radicalized" me; that awoke in me a desire that I had never before....

I sincerely believe everyone has this... Some just choose to let it lie fallow.

 If you tow this line, you must damn public perception. You'll almost always be going in the contrary direction 🤣

You must be willing to stand alone against the tide of public opinion.. In fact, you must learn to relish it...For some, when everyone agrees with them, they take it as something jot being quite right...

They're usually obsessed with something almost to the point of extremism...

(Story for another day)

My point is..

As firstborn, stay firm..

Take the hurt and pain as part of the journey..and when time proves you right, be gracious...

I remember that for a time, I was seen as a rebel by my parents.. I stood and took all the hits.. Verbal, financial, and even physical at a point..

I'll never forget when one time I was afraid to make a move and God said to me..

"If you don't do this now, you & your family will suffer down the line"

I couldn't explain this to them or most people...

How could i? I didn't even understand it myself..

All I knew was this was the way to go and I needed to keep to it no matter what...

Not just for my sake, but for theirs.. Even if they couldn't see it at the time...

My parents laugh about it all now.. They ask me how I knew.. They say they're pleased with me.. They trust  me and my judgement...and all that stuff...

This is another tricky point.. You must never get used to the accolades.. Stay true to your nature and life will surely take you beyond the bounds of their comfort zone and set you at loggerheads again 🤣

It's a cycle..

It's how things, groups, civilizations advance...

It's normal that those who bring the greatest advances be attacked the most...

It is what it is . Accept it and move on.

Jesus' brothers mocked him and told  him to go enlarge his ministerial reach at the feast even though they didn't believe in Him.

Jesus must have known... Mockery is almost always glaring.. It must have stung..Ouch!

I'm grateful that I had one friend who was at that point at the same time I was...

Whether you have  comrade in the struggle or not, heed my word to you below;

"Stay true my friends..

Stay true"