*UNCLE COME AND PROMISE ME.*
I remember those childhood days of mine when the use of “promise cards” invaded the community. Close to the end of the year (between the months of October and December), we’d buy theses cards, which costs about five naira or so, and give it to our elder relatives and siblings. With smiles on our face, we’ll say “Uncle (or Aunty, as the case may be) come and promise me”.
Promise cards were cards containing a list of items that we’ll like to have or that we’ll like people to buy for us, including a column for the name of the person who is promising and the date he or she would fulfill it.
I wonder what on earth inspired or initiated this idea in whoever first produced these “promise cards”, because it was really widespread among children of those days.
If any individual happened to choose an item which he/she promises to buy for us at a stipulated time, we would always remind that individual; “Uncle (or Aunty), don’t forget your promise ooooo”. Some lads would go to the extent of reminding the individual everyday or every time they set their eyes on him/her, just to make sure they don’t forget to fulfill their promises in due course.
Peradventure coincidentally, the stipulated time of promise elapses, and we have not heard from our Uncle or Aunty, we become troubled and sad; asking everyone; “where is Uncle A, or Aunty B?” And when we eventually see the individual, with tearful eyes, we ask for our promise again, stating that the time they frame had elapsed. If that individual was kind enough, he’ll buy it for us; if not, he’ll postpone it again.
Immediately that individual fulfils his promise, we’d leap with great joy, smiling and laughing as these words would come out of our mouths; “Uncle or Aunty, thank you”.
After that, we’d go to our promise cards and cancel the individual’s name signifying that the promise has been fulfilled.
From then henceforth, we’d begin to have this love and attraction for this individual who promised and fulfilled his promise. Whereas, those who didn’t fulfill theirs, we develop a kind of hatred and resentment for them.
Now here is where I’m driving at.
Just as those young children, God has given us a blank “promise card” and He has signed it (though with no definite time of fulfilling His Promises). He has told us to write whatever we want therein, and that He’ll do it for us.
Most of us misuse this opportunity; in that we refuse to checkup our “promise cards” to see the promises God had made and fulfilled, and in return, appreciate Him for them. We forget that if we thank Him for the fulfilled promises, he’ll be moved to fulfill the rest.
When last did you checkup your “promise card”? We only set our eyes on the unfulfilled promises, but we hardly look up to the fulfilled ones and express gratitude for their fulfillment. That’s why most promises are not fulfilled.
Another reason why our “promise cards” have too many unfulfilled promises, is because, like those children, we refuse to hold God by His promises. We refuse to “disturb” Him about His promises. We develop the attitude that “whenever God likes, He’ll do it for me”. Little did we know that just like our uncles, God needs to be reminded and kind of “pestered” persistently so that He can fulfill His promises on time. If you doubt that, then why did bible say we should pray without ceasing? Jesus also said “men ought always to pray and not to faint.” That implies that we need to be importunate in asking God to fulfill the promises He has signed in our “promise cards.
One other reason why we have too many unfulfilled promises is because we’ve written what we want and not what we necessarily need. God gives us what we need; not what we want. What we want most times are not necessarily what we need; so God will put the promises on hold until we really need them. I can remember vividly that those “promise cards” contained some items that children did not really need; and so no one would promise to get them for us. Some of those items include cars, phones and exuberant amounts of money. Meanwhile, other items like school bags, shoes, sandals and stationeries were usually promised and fulfilled.
Now ask yourself. That unfulfilled promise, do you really need it? That promotion you’ve always wanted, are you really mature enough to handle a bigger position? That financial breakthrough you’re looking forward to, can you really manage the little you have, before stretching yourself into a bigger financial state?
Look out for those unfulfilled promises; they might just be what you don’t need; you only want them.
One last reason is maybe because we are not His children; or we are not close to Him enough. Children don’t give their “promise cards” to strangers, and individuals don’t waste their resources on children who are strangers to them. This implies that God won’t fulfill promises of strangers; He won’t even sign their “promises cards”. Therefore, get to know God in your own religious capacity. Spend time with Him. Accept and acknowledge Him as God. If you know him, and He knows you, then expect the fulfillment of His promises.
Conclusively, as from today, let’s learn to tender our “promise cards” before God, day by day. Look up to the fulfilled ones, and appreciate Him for them; and also remind Him daily of the unfulfilled ones. Unlike those childhood “promise cards”, the one God gives us is never filled up. No one has ever got all the promises in His “promise card” fulfilled. We always have some things we need from God. Therefore till we die, we’ll always need God’s assistance.
As we present our “promise cards” to the creator, with thanksgiving for the ones fulfilled, I pray that as much as our promises are, fulfillment will accompany them. Amen.
Akintemi Emmanuel
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