ONYINYE'S MIRROR ON LIFE

Onyinye OyedeleTuesday, January 9, 2007
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Ontario, Canada

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TRANSITIONS


any of us have been asked to get a transit visa to allow us to stop over in another country for few hours, to catch a connecting flight to a final destination. You might remember those long waits at the airport and you just wished you could go into the city and look around, but you are not permitted to do that. Those hours of waiting can be very challenging and frustrating. You have so much time and sometimes you really don't know what to do. It is also very uncomfortable especially if you have children with you. You can not go too far either so that you won't miss the flight. You are in a transition process and you have to be ready to make that change and connect with your flight. In life we also experience other kinds of transitions which demand that we stay until we have reached our goal. Nations, states, schools, institutions, organizations, companies, associations, individuals and families all go through a period of change which requires patience, persistence and perseverance. These are attitudes that one must try to cultivate in a period of transition.


A mother trying to introduce solid food to her toddler is constantly challenged each meal time when she has to chase the "tiny feet" round the house until he/she agrees to eat your rice or eba and soup, potatoes and yam. She has to think of ways each meal time to help this young toddler make the transition from "milk to solid". When this process has been fully established, mummy has to try and get used to the idea of her big boy or girl dipping their tiny fingers into her own plate! In raising children, there are so many transitions that they have to make and parents have to know the time to start each training. It is indeed a task that is quite demanding. But it is always joyful to see your kids growing, learning and developing.

A single lady gets married and has to make the transition into a wife. She has to start thinking not just about herself but also her husband and vice versa. The transition from being independent to being interdependent in marriage is not a rushed process. Moving from "miss to Mrs." is a noble transition that should be accorded every thought and time so that your goal will be accomplished.

A couple has to make the transition to parenthood. You now have to share your time and emotions with your bundle of joy and you start planning and making adjustments in your life. It can really be overwhelming because you might not have a clue on what to do as first time parents. But after a while when you have allowed yourself to make a smooth transition into your new role, you might even give some advice to other new parents.

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A family of three preparing for the arrival of another child is also in a transition process. Looking after two kids or more is quite a handful and one needs to face the daily challenges of meeting everyone's needs. But in the midst of all the changes and adjustments, there is so much joy and gratitude to God for increasing your family. As time goes on, parents become their children's friends, advisers, trainers and disciplinarian. So many shoes to fill and so many transitions to make!

When you come abroad with high economic, career and academic expectations, it is most likely that you will pursue that with all your heart. But often times, you have to try so many other things on your journey to that ideal job or career. You might be told to take some exams or you might take a menial job for now. You are in a transition process, so you can not afford to settle down too early.

In life sometimes people meet you in your transition process and could make conclusions based on that temporary state. Your financial, family or personal life could be in state of transition. Maybe you are dealing with certain weaknesses like anger and impatience at this stage. You hope to become more gentle and patient soon. As you continue on your path to becoming a better person and manage your anger better, don't be discouraged. God is still working on and in you, transforming you into the person that He wants you to be. He wants you to surrender and submit allowing Him to perfect His work in your life. Let us therefore try and embrace every challenge that a transition process brings knowing that it will only make us better.