COKE OR COKE- COLOURED DYE

OR  

I’m pretty sure a great number of people enjoy coke (coca-cola soft drink). Well, some time ago, coca-cola changed the shape of their bottle to something I find really attractive and I’m wondering…What if as a coke fan, you decide to have a coke to quench your thirst only to find that inside of that attractive bottle is a liquid coke-coloured dye, a far cry from the real thing, would you still go for it the next time you thirst for coke? Well maybe, but with a lot of caution. However, I’m sure you would prefer to drink the real coke poured out in a clean cup and forget about the one in the attractive bottle. The container and label are good but what quenches thirst is the content and thus is far more important.


        Bottom line, a pretty face or a tight swag is useless and repugnant eventually, without the right content. Your nice shape and sensual charm, or your rich family heritage may be game changers but what sustains the game is always the person on the inside (content). People are tired of junk, they want substance. Who really are you? I hear people say “I am somebody, I am great” and so on… Nice! But saying and thinking you are someone great is just a mere fantasy without deliberate and productive steps in the direction of greatness. And mind you, this ‘mighty’ greatness is most times made up of little seemingly unimportant things that are actually of utmost importance. What have we done with the values our parents taught us? What has become of our ethics and etiquettes? We all want to do what we like, but does it really matter what we like if it’s not right?

*When last did you say ‘I will…’ and you did? (Integrity)
*Much as you can talk, when last did you apologise genuinely for doing something wrong or ask for something nicely or even say ‘thank you’? (Courtesy)
*Has saying hello or extending polite greetings to others (old or young) become just an issue of compulsion rather than a show of civility? (Courtesy) 

 *Has your smile become too precious to behold except on special occasions? (Warmth)
*When last did you help someone, knowing they’ll never be able to pay back? 
*Or stand up for an elderly one to take your seat? (Compassion and respect)
*What about the need to dress appropriately, or to refrain from speaking profanities, or even be in control of your phones and gadgets rather than they being in control of you? (Decorum)

I could go on and on. I’m pretty sure these are not strange but unfortunately, a lot of young people think they are 'old school' hence have ignored them for so long, almost forgeting what it means to have the right values. Unimportant as they may seem, there is no lasting significance that is gained outside the coffers of your ethics and etiquette. You want to be the sweetheart of genuine people, to light up your environment, then work more on your content and whatever attention you pay to your fancy container would be worth it. The value of your container and your label should only be a reinforcement of the value of your content. Remember, "Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot”- Clarence Thomas.
Make a commitment today to keep your content updated with things that really matter in the life you've been called to.

1 Corinthians 14:40

By Fidelia Ben-Udi