Ever wondered after listening to the news and you hear about some tragic incident which may have occured exactly somewhere you had been before or are just returning from? My friend Titi was on that christmas day flight when the failed suicide bombing attempt occured and she was telling me how when she first saw the young lad she thought how cute he was not knowing that he had evil intentions and she could not help but think... "what if..."
There was another case of a young man who got wrongfully arrested for kidnapping. He has this friend he hangs out with from time to time. This friend of his was kind of rich but he did not know and probably did not even ask the guy what he did for a living. As it turns out, one day they were out drinking and having fun as usual and his friend got a call to which he replied and asked if the caller was "there" and then said he will meet him there. He was on his way out and this other young man insisted he'll join him and he said ok. Only for them to get there and be ambushed by the police. Apparently, this dude was going to pick up the ransom and they were both arrested. Trust our police... Ignorance was not enough excuse.... They both were taken away! And I could not help but think "what if that was me"
I was counselling a young man recently who told me he no longer believes in the existence of God. He said he does not understand or agree to the possibility of of His existence due to the fact that he prayed to God and still lost both his parents. He told me of the various ordeals he had been through and how he had been faced with so many problems and disappointments lately. He said he could do anything for money even if he had to serve the devil for it. Now, imagine if this dude actually gets to make this kind of statement to someone who could exploit his weakness for evil. This young, great looking man would then become a menace to our society.
At this stage, he was not asking for too much but for someone to be the answer to his prayers and since I could do little for him, I handed him over to a friend with recommendations. However, I could not stop thinking... "what if..."
I sat down beside one white dude on a train in london sometime last year and I realized he had his hand in his pocket all through. And then his phone rang as soon as we got out from underground. He was a bit reluctant to answer it but finally did so as we were approaching the next stop. When he did, I noticed his hand was red. At first I thought he was bleeding but with the way he rushed out of the train when he realized many eyes were on him, it was obvious the blood was not his. People started talking bout it but in the usual london train fashion, the doors were shut and the train moved before we could conclude on what to do. Now, remember I was sitting right beside this dude (not the one on the pic above pls). I just could not help but think "what if..."
Now, there are some things we can control and others we cannot, but everyday we meet different people. Some we exchange a hand shake with, others just a smile or maybe just eye contact. Each of these individuals have a history... A past or maybe something in the present that is just eating them up. This often causes them to act in a strange manner and sometimes leading to crime.
If you can lend a helping hand to another, please do! Maybe just a listening ear and a good advise would do the trick. Most times, its not even about money! People just don't seem to care these days... As long as it does not affect us directly, we're good! It should not be that way.
You know how you feel when someone you know dies and the last you remember of that person was how they tried to reach out to you or were in need of you and you did not care? Then you wish you can just turn back the hands of time and make things right but its too late! Well... don't wait for such an episode to occur again. Be the answer to someone's prayers; a listening ear in times of trouble; the voice of reasoning; the friend that cares. Don't turn a person down because you may not be able to provide the needed solution; do what you can at least! So you won't need to ask yourself.... "WHAT IF..."
Music | Passion | Peace | Friendship Meet Charles Granville, International Peace, Culture & Tourism Ambassador, International Artist, Engineer, Youth Icon.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
TO LOVE A MOTHER
I grew up listening to the song "Sweet Mother" and remember several times when fathers or other men get upset by it... "when will they sing a song for fathers?!" I understood their concern. Afterall, I too will become a father someday and I will very much like it if my children were to sing my praise! Well, I wished I could sing a song for fathers but unfortunately, I cannot. You see, I do not know him well enough to really appreciate the role of a father enough to sing it.
Mothers have been my only source of parenting all my life! From my mum, her mum, her mum's mum... They were the parents I knew. They taught me some of the values that formed the man you know today. I can never forget my great granny.. She had a tough skin... Firm but kind! Our encounter was brief but memorable... I thought she did not like me much because she was always on my case especially if I did wrong but now that I am older, I realised that she was only trying to set me on the right path.
My granny however, was one shoulder I could always lean on. She always assured me everything would be okay. She was tough too by the way, but I never for one day doubted her love for me. You may not believe it, but I was a stubborn kid! Maybe not so stubborn but I am very opinionated. I wanted to be heard and I've always liked to be in charge of things and do less under authority. Not because I choose to be, but I guess its in my nature. I produce the best results when I am in charge. My granny understood that and she worked with me, taught me stuff... She'd take me in when I have a major disagreement with mum and she'll say "don't worry, everything will be alright" :)
My mum.... Hnmmmm! That woman is a woman among women! She is stronger than 10men! She is FIRE! I think she became that way because she is an only daughter among 5 strong men and she too had 4 strong boys as children and she had to raise all 4 of us on her own. Sometimes, I feel she should write a book about her experiences and if she did, it will be a bestseller.
She has been through a lot and has stayed strong through it. From her I have learnt not tot live beyond my means... I have learnt not to depend on others but be satisfied with myself and rather to be someone else's problem, I should be many people's solution!
It hasn't been all rosy between us... Infact, I think we were fighting 80% of the time... lol! But still, everyone who came in contact with me will tell you... "Charles Granville loves his mum!" and that is because, I do appreciate the sacrifices she put in. The successes she has achieved and the love she has shown.
In my new album, I dedicated a track to mothers... Not just my mum but all mothers because through mine I came to discover that we cannot appreciate these women enough! And we should!
I remember seeing an elderly lady trying to get up the stairs from the subway in one of the train stations in london... I was just coming off the train myself and she was not on that train... She had very heavy luggages and as a result, it slowed her down. I could not understand why people just kept passing her by and no one cared enough to help her so, I passed too... But my heart did not let me, so I came back and offered her a hand.
Woman: How kind of you Sir....
Me: Its alright ma'am
Woman: You wouldn't grab my things and run away would you?!
Me: (Chuckles) No ma'am just trying to help...
She laughed and thanked me. She did not believe there were still people like me in the world... Well, There are! I have a mother and I would like for her to get such help where she needs it too! But if I know my mum, She'll find a way to get it done... lolz.
So, to my mum and to all mothers and aspiring mothers alike... On behalf of myself and on behalf of all those you have sacrificed for, we say THANK YOU.... We Love You!
Mothers have been my only source of parenting all my life! From my mum, her mum, her mum's mum... They were the parents I knew. They taught me some of the values that formed the man you know today. I can never forget my great granny.. She had a tough skin... Firm but kind! Our encounter was brief but memorable... I thought she did not like me much because she was always on my case especially if I did wrong but now that I am older, I realised that she was only trying to set me on the right path.
My granny however, was one shoulder I could always lean on. She always assured me everything would be okay. She was tough too by the way, but I never for one day doubted her love for me. You may not believe it, but I was a stubborn kid! Maybe not so stubborn but I am very opinionated. I wanted to be heard and I've always liked to be in charge of things and do less under authority. Not because I choose to be, but I guess its in my nature. I produce the best results when I am in charge. My granny understood that and she worked with me, taught me stuff... She'd take me in when I have a major disagreement with mum and she'll say "don't worry, everything will be alright" :)
My mum.... Hnmmmm! That woman is a woman among women! She is stronger than 10men! She is FIRE! I think she became that way because she is an only daughter among 5 strong men and she too had 4 strong boys as children and she had to raise all 4 of us on her own. Sometimes, I feel she should write a book about her experiences and if she did, it will be a bestseller.
She has been through a lot and has stayed strong through it. From her I have learnt not tot live beyond my means... I have learnt not to depend on others but be satisfied with myself and rather to be someone else's problem, I should be many people's solution!
It hasn't been all rosy between us... Infact, I think we were fighting 80% of the time... lol! But still, everyone who came in contact with me will tell you... "Charles Granville loves his mum!" and that is because, I do appreciate the sacrifices she put in. The successes she has achieved and the love she has shown.
In my new album, I dedicated a track to mothers... Not just my mum but all mothers because through mine I came to discover that we cannot appreciate these women enough! And we should!
I remember seeing an elderly lady trying to get up the stairs from the subway in one of the train stations in london... I was just coming off the train myself and she was not on that train... She had very heavy luggages and as a result, it slowed her down. I could not understand why people just kept passing her by and no one cared enough to help her so, I passed too... But my heart did not let me, so I came back and offered her a hand.
Woman: How kind of you Sir....
Me: Its alright ma'am
Woman: You wouldn't grab my things and run away would you?!
Me: (Chuckles) No ma'am just trying to help...
She laughed and thanked me. She did not believe there were still people like me in the world... Well, There are! I have a mother and I would like for her to get such help where she needs it too! But if I know my mum, She'll find a way to get it done... lolz.
So, to my mum and to all mothers and aspiring mothers alike... On behalf of myself and on behalf of all those you have sacrificed for, we say THANK YOU.... We Love You!
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