A MOMENT WITH PRISSY

Say NO to Xenophobia

2015-04-18T23:24:00.001-04:00

For the last few days anti-immigration volience has been spreading across South Africa. It is heart breaking seeing all these barbaric actions taking place in a country where the global community has once fought for to gain independence, acceptance and the eradication of prejudice and racism. So why are some South Africans refusing to move on from the negativity and accept the fact that foreigners are not the reason for high unemployment rate in their country. It is difficult to see a country where liberation and multiculturalism was celebrated the most can engage in such animalistic behaviour.This unacceptable and shamful events has been going on for far too long and it is time the global community come together to put an end to this cural attacks.

Many questions keeps running through my head as I read headlines after headlines.

What measures is the government of South Africa taking to rectify this long over due issue? What happened to Africans being united? Don't we all bleed the same red blood? Or do some of us bleed purple or green blood? Why are people being burned alive? Why are hard working people being slaughtered like animals? Why is it okay to resolve issues with such volience? We are all foreigners in this strange world and we seem to forget that our time on this earth is temporary.

It is sad to say, but the black man is their own worse enemy but yet we are quick to point our fingers and blame the white man for our misfortunes. Africans are suppose to have each others back, fight for each others battles and praise each other. Instead, we flight againt each other and kill each other because we don't want to see our own brothers rise. No wonder why the continent of Africa is always suffering. Jesus must really come down soon because the wickness of this world is at its highest peak.

Noone deserves to be hated because they are immigrants; we are all foreigners somewhere . However, in the light of this tragedy we must all come togther in solidarity for our voices be heard loud and clear. We should use our social media platforms as a tool to bring change in our world. And say NO to xenophobia because all Africans lives matter.

30days Gratitude Challenge : Day 5-9

2015-04-18T03:28:00.001-04:00

My day 5 -9 of my gratitude challenge has been very personal. And I wish I can share my gratitudes with my readers but I can only share it during my personal time with God. But in all I am grateful for my life and grateful to live through out these days without any tragedy. I am grateful. On the bright side, I have 21 more days to go. Stay with me :) God bless.

30days Gratitude Challenge : Day 4

2015-04-16T20:16:00.001-04:00

Sundays are my official lazy day but today was far from that because I received a call from a family friend who really needed a favor from me. At that moment, I knew my sunday nap time will not be taking place because I couldn't decline her request. I had the beautiful opportunity to baby sit four boys between the ages of 7 years to 11 months including my boys (everyone that knows me know that babysitting is my cup of tea). But, thank God for my husband because he was the defination of devin helper on this blessed day. I always knew he was a helper but this situation really reinforced the reasons why I married him. Although my lazy Sunday was disrupted, I am glad the evening went smoothly because of him. I am grateful for my helpful husband. I am grateful :)

30days Gratitude Challenge : Day 3

2015-04-12T10:34:00.001-04:00

Many times, we as human beings don't appreciate and give credit to our past friends that we believe were toxic at some point in our lives. But it is important for us to recognize and give credit to our past friends for dropping in our lives and teaching us lessons in certain seasons of our lives. Because without them, we will not learn to appreciate and acknowledge our present family and friends who are depositing good into our lives. So today I'm grateful for my past teachers, who have taught me life lessons in my previous semesters and have enabled me to overcome obstacles in my current semester as I transition into the future. To my past teachers, thank you for giving me the tools and abilities to choose my present friends wisely. Now I'm am surrounded with people that speaks good and thruth into my life, people that pushes me to do better and people that encourages and uplift me in this confusing world. I am grateful for my past teachers because I've learned to appreciation and show gratiude for my present teachers. I am grateful.

30days Gratitude Challenge : Day 1

2015-04-09T22:24:00.001-04:00

At 2:33am today, I heard my son Ezra crying out loud but I refused to get up because I was too tired. I laid in my bed awake with my eyes closed for few minutes; thinking to myself , why oh why? After a hard struggle to open my eyes, I saw my son standing in his crib facing the wall, which was unusual. At that moment, I knew he was crying in his sleep; maybe due to a bad dream. So I placed my hand on him and said a little prayer and put him back to bed. Few minutes after going back to bed, Ezra started crying again.

When I got up to carry him, it dawned on me that my five weeks vacation in Ghana without my kids was really over. My long relaxing and sleeping nights has ceased; now I am back to mommy duties again. With a frown face, I placed him on my left shoulder and took him down stairs to feed him. I started reminiscing again about my vacation and now I'm back to sleepless nights and yelling in my house. This was definitely a change I was not looking foward to, however I smelt the cheese thousands of miles away.

But in all, I am embracing this change because I'm grateful to see my family again. I am grateful to hear the cries of my babies because not every mother lives to see their children.I am grateful to hear the cries of my babies because they are blessings.

During my trip to Ghana, I had the opportunity to visit Mampong Babies Home and held babies as young as Ezra in my arms with no parents or family to care for them. I am thankful and grateful to see and hold my children in my arms. I thankful to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and feed my babies. I'm grateful for the strength I have to conduct my mommy duties even when i'm extreamly tired. I am grateful for healthy and normal children. I am grateful!

Make Your Time Count

2015-02-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

As I write my first article for 2015, I feel a sense of accomplishment because it has been over a year since I composed my thoughts. For several months now, I have been contemplating if I should start writing again, however I have been giving myself excuses after excuses

“Oh I’m too busy with my boys.”

“Oh my family is keeping me too occupied, so I don’t have time to write.”

“Oh I will start writing tomorrow when I find time.”

“Oh when the time is right, I will start writing again.”

With all these excuses I still find myself on my social media platforms, reading, engaging and consuming in materials that do not add value to my life or my purpose.

Hence the other night, while I was conversing with a friend, he asked me, “Why did you stop writing?” I wondered why he was asking such an off the topic question (I was definitely not ready to this conversation). He said, “I loved reading your write ups; it had inspired me and others in the past. So why did you relinquish the very thing that makes you who you are.” I replied, “But wait I’m not a quitter, I just can’t find time to write anymore.” He pulsed and said, “But you have time to talk on the phone, use Instagram and Facebook right? If you have time to do all these “important” things then you are not too busy to dedicate sometime for your passion”.

Boom!! There it was; he switched on the light bulb inside my head.

I started to analyze our conversation after we hung up the phone and his questions kept lingering in my head.

I started to question myself. “Am I really a quitter? What does the word quitter mean? Quitter means loser right? I’m not a loser; cafter all I still got a lot accomplished this past year right?”

While processing everything and trying to reason with myself, I saw my two and half year old son throwing his soccer ball over my head; in attempt to hit the Christmas and birthday card decorations above the fireplace. At that moment, I made the decision not to yell out the usual ‘DANIEL STOP’. I observed him for about three minutes trying to get the cards down through his little tactics. After many attempts, his plans did not succeed. He proceeded with plan b in hopes to achieve his ultimate goal. He picked up one of his long toy and placed it on the side of the TV stand, which is about 20 inches way from the fireplace. At that moment, I was wondering what else he was really trying to attempt. He skillfully climbed on top of the TV stand and sat close to the edge of the stand, allowing himself to get closer to the fireplace. He picked up his long toy, stretched his right arm and started to bring all the cards down. After he completed his goal, he slowly got down from the stand and started laughing and jumping. He looked at me with a smirk on his face to see if I was going to speak out about his victory. Surely it was a huge accomplishment for him after trying many times. However, I still kept quiet to observe what his next move would be; he proceeded to pick up some of the cards to tear them up. But, of course I got up and stopped him from destroying my cards.

A moment after, I sat down to marinate on Daniel’s little performance. It was definitely a learning experience for me. Never to give up and never give excuses because there is always a way when one path seems impossible.

I started writing poems in my dollar store journals in grade 7. Throughout my high school years, I turned every circumstance in my daily life as a writing piece to express myself. I remember in grade 11, my English teacher told us to select any topic and write an essay on. I chose to write about “love” when I had little experience in relationship. When I turned in my paper, I thought I did awful because I didn’t believe in myself as a writer. I recall being the last student to receive back my essay but I was extremely shocked to see the letter A on my paper. While I was puzzled about my mark, my teacher very impressed; she confidently encouraged me to continue writing. Before I left her class, she asked my permission to keep my paper and use it as an example for her future student. At that moment, my perception about my passion to write confidently changed.

As I sit here to write this piece, I feel extremely awesome because one of my 2015 goals was to start writing again. If you are reading this article, I trust you have outlined your goals for this year. Please believe in yourself that you are a winner and don’t quit until you achieve your goals. Stop given excuses; make time for your passion.

Because, if you can reply to text messages, pick up a phone call, Facebook, Instagram and have time to read this piece, you definitely have time to work on your goals. Don’t procrastinate; get started on that project, career, school or business you wanted to start, because time does not wait for anyone. Wasted time cannot be retrieved, therefore maximize the little free time you have. Capture your dreams in real time and increment value to your purpose. Make the time and make it count!

Express and reflect on your world**

Sincerely

Priscilla Birago

Letter To Fear

2013-07-30T14:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Fear,

You must be wondering why I'm writing you this letter. I have no other way to break this to you, but I no longer want to be in any kind of relationship with you. It has been very difficult to say goodbye to you after our long relationship. Things are just not the same anymore.

I know you think that you have been protecting me from disappointment and rejection and your ultimate goal is to keep me safe from courage. But the fact is, I met courage on numerous occasions when you weren’t around and he’s not as bad as you made it seem.

I appreciate the times we had but it's time I let you go your separate way. You have kept me safe from disappointment and rejection for way to long, and I feel like it is time for me to be on my own.The truth is I know longer find you attractive and I don't feel safe around you anymore. You have been deceiving me all this while. You have been too over protective and I no longer feel secure in your presence. You are too bossy and you keep telling me things I cannot do.

Since you came into my life, my spirit of power and boldness has diminished. How can I meet success if you keep stopping me from encountering risk, disappointment and rejection? You said you would lead me to see destiny but you just kept me far away from confidence and ambition. You claim you care about me but your actions demonstrate something else. Fear, I just don’t get you!

I feel like I am always in bondage when you’re with me because you keep me captive from the truth. I want the freedom to explore with risk, disappointment and rejection because I know they will help me meet success. I must admit, you’ve really hurt my spirit and I need to
find courage so I can experience new life.

You know what fear, the bottom line is you are just deceitful and you scare the hell out of me. I need to break this relationship up effective as of now. But before I conclude this letter, I just want to make something clear; all forms of communication with you will be ceased. Do not ever call, text, email, or facebook me.

We will no longer have any type of association; so going forward, I will remove your name “Fear” out of my mind because you no longer exist in my world. Just know that I am not the person you thought I was before.

Don’t be mad if you see me with ambition, confident, capability,
possibility, courage, success and their other friends.

I hope you understand.

Have a good life Fear.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago
Your ex-friend.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Confessions of a Blessed Woman

2013-07-20T00:19:00.000-04:00

Confessions of a Blessed Woman – By Priscilla Birago

I am the definition of greatness.

I am not an average woman because I have defeated mediocrity.
I am a magnificent wife, mother, daughter and sister.

I am a blessed woman.

My existence and actions are taint by the grace and favor from above.
I am remarkable, extraordinary and a complete woman.
I am a warrior because I have defeated adversity

I am a blessed woman.

I am in control of my fortune
Prosperity is part of my existence.
Everything I speak on or touch is blessed.
I am the light that outshines through the dark tunnel.

I am a blessed woman.

I am the master of my universe.

My contribution is significant to the world.
My life is purposeful and meaningful.

I am fruitful because I am the seed of Abraham.

I am a blessed woman, Yes that's me!

Get Your Kerosene and Wood Ready

2013-07-13T11:50:00.001-04:00

Have you ever sat down to write what you are blessed with? The truth is, often times we lack the ability to identify our blessings because of what we take for granted. Our blessings are sometimes recognized only when we endure a dramatic situation.

What's my point???

My point is that many individuals that reside in the Western world are very spoiled! Yes, including me, me and me. We take many things for granted and consequently, our everyday blessings are not truly appreciated. Many Torontoians may recollect this faithful day, Monday July 8th 2013. This was a day loaded with panic and chaos in our beloved city due to a record rain fall. Many parts of the city were flooded and the majority of us experienced the agronomy of 24hrs blackout.

I was filled with irritation and anger as every second passed by. I thought to myself, what is this world coming too?? No hot water, phone, television, air-conditioning, facebook , twitter or instagram. It truly felt like 24hrs of hell on earth for many of us.

As I heard the sound of my television outside the walls of my home, I screamed "thank you Jesus! This nightmare is over". I couldn't wait to open my fridge to cook some fresh and yummy food for my empty tummy.

It took me few hours to start recollecting what actually happened. I could not come to terms with how I and every other person was behaving because for the 24hrs blackout. This whole city was in disarray and outrage. How sad?

I query our condition or our adaptation if we had no electricity for more than 72hrs. Just imagine the turmoil a mere 72hrs of no electricity would cause. People would be jumping off buildings... like literally...

Now think about it...
Don't you think we are extremely dependent on electricity? Name it, gas, phones, elevators, stoves, water, food, computers, iPods and many more are all by-products of electricity. Its shame to say but it is our only means of survival in this part of the world...but yet we don't consider it as a blessing.

Funny enough, people in other parts of the world are surviving without electricity on a daily basis but we call them "third world countries". How ironic that they are equipped to survived under any means, while we are not.

So lets analysis this for a moment...
If Africa and North America were to go on a survival contest with no electricity for just one month, who do you think would survival?

The fact of the matter is, we are too entrenched in our technological society, and as a result, we are unable to function outside of that world. We need to go back to the days where there was neither electricity nor technology as the means of survival and learn the essentials of life.

Become conscious and realize that having electricity and anything that comes along with is a privilege/blessing and we should not take for granted.

P.S. Get your kerosene and wood ready because there is more of this come.

Peace!!

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

Happy Birthday Danny Boy

2013-05-21T00:15:00.000-04:00

Often times, our plans in life gets interrupted by the plans of God, but when this occurs, it means God is elevating us to a different level. A level to the next life, a life filled with more blessings and favors from God. And this is exactly what happened to me in September of 2011, when I discovered that I was pregnant with my first child.

I had a very easy pregnancy. I suffered no symptoms except for swollen feet. After taking my maternity leave a week before my due date (may 9th), I was 10 days over due.

I was induced for 12hrs and nothing happened, at 12:08am I was taking into the operation room for emergency c-section. With tears dropping down my eyes , prayers being prayed heavily, feeling every pull and every tuck, at 1;05am on May 20th 2012, I heard my baby boy cry and the doctor said "he's perfect". We were told that he had a cord around his neck....Oghenenyoro- God answers prayers.

Today, may 20th, 2013 marks a special day for my son, Daniel Ikpen 1st birthday. The blessings, favors and joy this miracle has poured into my life is unexplainable. I am forever grateful. Happy Birthday Daniel!!!! You are truly an angel sent from above, to help me grow, and understand my purpose in life.

I can’t believe a year is here already. Although people always warned me that the time flies very fast, It only seems like yesterday when you were born. Thank you for granting me a better and meaningful life. It’s amazing just how much you’ve grown and how strong you've become. Always flighting for your right.. lol .. You are a true Daniel!

I pray that your light will keep shining brighter and brighter everyday. Even in dark places, you shall become the light for people to see and follow. May you grow to influence your surroundings and beyond and may God grant you devine abilities, wisdom and knowledge to lead you to your ordained destiny. You shall be the head and not the tail; you shall be above and not beneath; for you are a true Daniel ! I pray for devine protection for the rest of your life and devine direction from God.

You are the best thing that ever happened to me...You are my heart beat, my pride, my joy. Daniel you are truly are an angel sent from up above.

Have a Happy 1st Birthday, with lots and lots of love from me, daddy, grandparents, uncles and aunties. We love you.

Sincerely,

Your Mother.

My ultimate question for the year .

2013-05-12T11:37:00.004-04:00

Have you ever met a person and in less than an hour, they altered your mind set about life or revolutionized your thinking?

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely, Priscilla Birago

Finding your trueself !

2013-05-12T01:15:00.001-04:00

My mini quotes...

The beautiful journey of self-realization.. Is a quest to self-love.

The inception of self-realization is a wonderful thing..

Find yourself, you will love you, you will be happy with you, you will put your happiness first and care less about what others say about you.

Acclimatize yourself with positive people and you will yield positive results.

Avoid putting yourself in situations where you will be disrespected because you're too important to be disrespected.

Sometimes, we think dehumanization is caused by the third person but we forget that most times it caused by the first person.. You!

The key word is You !

You are the pilot of your own aircraft.

You decide how high and how far you will fly.

Always stay clear in order to see what's ahead of you or what's coming your way.

Take the proper precautions to avoid hijackers on your aircraft.

Sometime we doubt ourselves how far we can go.Your determination will define your Success.

Be true to yourself .The moment you are true to yourself , you become original.

There is a reason why God gave everyone a head and a brain.. To think about something and call it your own.

Life is what happens when u make plans.Sometimes plans turns into disappointments. You just have to keep moving forward if it doesn't cripple you.

Even the cripple makes an effort to move forward.

Don't be a balloon filled with air.. Because when u burst, there will be nothing left.

Life is all about learning and embracing every experience.

Find your true-self!

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago

Hands of a Hero Foundation Annual Charity fashion show: Fashion against Poverty

2013-04-07T23:12:00.000-04:00

Hands of a Hero Foundation Annual Charity fashion show: Fashion against Poverty, will be taking place on Saturday, May 04, 2013 at 6:00pm. The event will be held at Creatures Creating Art Gallery: 822 Dundas Street W, Toronto, Ontario.

Ticket Price : $15

Motto:

Poverty transcends borders; its passes waters that bridge continents. It encompasses the earth much like the air that we all breathe. Hands of a Hero Foundation recognize that the poverty pandemic is far more than the shoe less children in Africa. Poverty is in our backyards, our neighborhoods, in our cities. Realizing that the problem is deeper than hemispheres is the first step to creating a solution. Self awareness and Education are key in fighting this pandemic and it is up to us to make sure we help those in need.

But just like poverty, Fashion also, transcends borders. It defines a people and creates an awareness of self and culture whilst beckoning others to realize its beauty.

Hands of a Hero Foundation – Fashion Against Poverty Gala is meant to create an atmosphere of enlightenment and beauty as it brings forth the various fabrics, styles and customs of the different continents many of us call home.

Vision

The concept of the fashion show will entail the collaboration of different fashion designers and emerging talents from a diverse realm of fashion background, showcasing from at least ½ designers from each continent grouping to challenge the norm of fashion.

This event will be used as a platform to showcase the talents of established and upcoming designers, models, entertainers and entrepreneurs. In addition, the fashion show will be used as an inspirational podium to connect people, spark cross-disciplinary ideas and create more innovation for the upcoming generation. Thus, different fashion designers all across the Greater Toronto Area will be given the opportunity to exhibit their unique fashion ideas and skills to fashion enthusiast in an exclusive art gallery.

In addition to the artists that will be participating in the event, some small businesses will have the opportunity to exhibit their business as vendors for the show.
To provide our audience and attendees with a distinctive and enjoyable event, the fashion show will include a cocktail reception, entertainment and live auction. After the show, audience members will also have the opportunity to mingle.

To purchase ticket (s) online please visit http://www.eventbrite.ca/event/5817471213/eorg#

Contact info:

Tel : 647-874-6624
Email : contactus@handsofahero.org
Web: www.handsofahero.org
www.twitter.com/Handsofahero
www.facebook.com/handsofaherofoundation

***
50% of funds raised from this event will go towards providing the resources needed to empower underserved youth, 12-18 years of age in the Greater Toronto Area through our summer youth program.

Another 50% of funds raised will go toward the Shingling Light Project, Toy drive and Little by little Project dedicated for less fortunate children in Ghana.

***

SUPPORT THE CAUSE

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago

Happy New Year

2013-01-05T21:07:00.001-05:00

Dear Blog,

It has been a while since I shared my inner most thoughts with you. 2012 was a busy year for me; however, it was filled with many blessings and grace from God. I trust 2013 will be more astonishing because my life keeps getting brighter and brighter each and every year. The wind of change in 2013 will revolutionize new beginnings in my life in the name of Jesus. Amen !!!

My maturity in the spiritual realm of God has been growing, thus I am well equip to prevail over any obstacles the year may throw at me. I envision 2013 as a prosperous and victorious year in all my endeavors.

I vowed few years ago to reform myself every year without creating a new year resolution, but rather, work on things from the previous year to keep on excelling in my personal and professional life. I always try to read at least 2 inspirational books per month to increase my knowledge and to add value to my life and i promise to keep that vow in 2013.

So, in the last few days, I have been searching through my pile of books at home and I discovered a book I purchased some few years ago and never read it. Talk about waste of money ahh?? Sadly, many of us have piled away our knowledge and value for many years and forget where and how to access it.

If you're one of those individuals and you're reading this today, I urge you to go back to your book shelves/piles and discover that one or two inspirational books you purchased with your hard working money but never read it. That book(s) may be the key you need to revolutionize your life in a positive and purposeful way in 2013.

This is the books I found; 365 Daily Inspirations for Creating a Life of Passion and purpose by Gay Hendricks.

The Secret: one of my best investments

I have also decided to revisit The Secret again this year to recharge my spirit and mind in a positive direction. The Secret has been one of my best investment.

I must confess, 2012 was an amazing year, so much was accomplished and I am ready for whatever 2013 has installed for me.

POW POW!!! 2013 Ready or not here I come

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago

Hands of a Hero Foundation

2012-11-29T12:18:00.001-05:00

Dear Readers,

Have you ever concerned yourself with the matters of the world and wondered what you could do to help? Have you come across a philanthropist movement and wondered how you could help? Have you ever wanted to bring change into the life(lives) of the less unfortunate but have yet to find a means?...well look no further.

Hands of a Hero Foundation is a registered non-profit organization in Canada that concentrates on transforming the lives of less fortunate children in Canada. We focus on empowerment, mentorship, educating and preparing children for their future endeavors.

We also focus on eliminating poverty and putting smiles on the faces of deprived children in Ghana. We are devoted to creating programs that provide sustainability, livability and prosperity for under privileged children in Africa.

Mission

Hands of a Hero Foundation’s mission is to support less fortunate children in Canada and Ghana by empowering, mentoring, educating and improving their standard living conditions.
Our ultimate aim is to create awareness, raise funds, and implement programs to help eliminate poverty among children. We hope to make a difference in the lives of children by giving them hope for a brighter future.

Motto: “Every helping hand is a hero in a child’s life”.

Vision

Our vision is to offer social-economical support, as well as recreation and educational programs, to change lives, and help children realize their full potential.

What they do

Ghana Initiatives

Heal the World: this is a health initiative that focuses on collecting and buying medical supplies for medical facilities.

The Shining light: collecting clothes and non-perishable food items.

The Toy Drive:this project focuses on collecting toys, teddy bears and stuffed animals.

Little By Little: The goal of this project is to buy school supplies.

Canada Initiatives

You Count (Youth Opportunities Uplifting Champions Over Underestimated Notable Talents)

You count aims to enlighten youths about the importance of their existence in their communities. The goal of this program is to mentor and motivate youths to recognize their potential in life and provide the key resources they require to achieve their goals and aspirations

Youth Mentorship Program: This is a one-on-one mentorship and empowerment program for youth.

Creative Minds -Summer program: workshops to educate youth from 14 to 18 years of age with specialized skills, such as leadership development, creative writing, public speaking and fashion design workshops.

After School Program: This initiative concentrates on helping children with homework, tutoring and engaging them in hands-on activities such as art and painting.

Tele-counseling Program: This initiative, concentrates on counseling students over the phone about courses and grades they need to obtain and/or achieve, in order to qualify for the right program in college/university.

Future Project Proposals in Ghana

Community Center project: the purpose of this project is to establish a center that will provide social, health, educational and recreational programs for young children in Ghana.

If you are interested in sponsoring HOHF projects/events, volunteering or donating monetary funds or/and items please contact them by phone at 6478747764 or by email at contactus@handsofahero.org

Stay Connected

Web :www.handsofahero.org

email : contactus@handsofahero.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/handsofaherofoundation

Twitter: www.twitter.com/handsofahero

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely, Prissy Birago

Sorry but you're black!

2012-03-30T00:44:00.017-04:00

What is the definition of rule of law in our society? Rule of law means everyone is treated equally in respect to the laws that govern us. It means everyone must obey the laws that are legislated in our society. The law does not discriminate based on social status, racial background or ethnicity. Moreover, no citizen is superior or above the law and everyone has the same equal right.

Question: Do you think rule of law is fair to all citizens?? Think about it for a second.

In my opinion, I believe rule of law is radicalized because most laws implemented in our society are created to target a certain racial class, particularly black people.

Geezzzzz where do I begin?? One of the most controversial cases in 2012 is the case of 17 year old Trevon Martin, who was gunned down by George Zimmerman in February 2012. If you have been following this case for the past few weeks, you can clearly see that many people are disappointed and fuming at the justice system. There is overwhelming evidence supporting the fact that Zimmerman killed Trevon out of poor judgment because he was a black boy wearing a hoody and looked suspicious. How can a man kill an unarmed adolescent boy, claim self-defense and allow him to walk away freely for so long?

Is this what we call justice?? Once again I am appalled and disappointed in the system.

So do you think the justice system is being fair to Trevon and black people as a whole??

OK, let me shift your mind to some laws that are systematically constructed to target the black community that many of us may not be aware of; for example, mandatory minimum -prison sentence.

It has been argued that laws within the criminal justice system such as the mandatory minimum -prison sentence and the plea barging unfairly targets black people. Do you know that black people are more likely to receive a harsher punishment than white people when the same crime is committed? As a result, there are disproportionate number of black people that are charged, investigated and also convicted for criminal offenses. This is a product of racism and discrimination against black people in the criminal justice system and also the over-surveillance in the black community.Racism in policing is very evident in black communities through systematic random checks that are hidden in police work .For example, police officers tend to stop and question a black person that is seen driving a nice expensive car.

In addition, mandatory minimum- prison sentence and the plea bargain impact the black community because most black people charged of a crime results in having a criminal record and being incarcerated. Mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug offense charges and firearm have been connected to the over-incarceration of black people in United States and in Canada.

Harsher penalties are associated with crack cocaine because it is seen as the black people’s drug mainly because it's cheaper to afford and is common in the black poor communities in United States. On the other hand, anyone charged with the use of powder cocaine receives a lighter sentence because powder cocaine is considered to be a white peoples’ drug. For example, In United States, five-year mandatory minimum prison term for 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine triggers five years prison term.

Consequently, more black people are being incarcerated because of this drug law and because of mandatory minimum sentence; many black people are pressured to get a plea bargain in order to get a shorter imprisonment if they are not rich enough to hire a lawyer to defend them. As a result, an innocent person that is pressured into a plea bargain is sentenced and receives a criminal record.

It is a sad reality for black people, but I am certainly not surprised of how Trevon is being portrayed as a dangerous black boy in this case.

Inevitability, if the role was reversed and Zimmerman was a black man, he would not be allowed to walk on the streets of Florida. He would be handcuffed and taken to jail and would face the bitter side of the law. There would be no such thing as “innocent until proven guilty” for him. As a matter of fact, he would be guilty before he is proven guilty. Of course in the state of Florida, he would be facing the death penalty or life in prison without parole. In the end, the justice system would non-verbally express to him; Sorry but you're black!

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago

OMG what was I thinking???

2012-02-22T23:40:00.004-05:00

Have you ever looked back and thought to yourself … OMG what was I thinking?

What was I thinking wearing that outfit?

What was I thinking when I did that hair?

What was I thinking when I dated that “guy”?

What was I thinking back then?

Different thoughts randomly run through my complex brain when I reflect on moments in my past, and all I can do is laugh and say thank God I’ve changed.

But guess what?? I do not regret anything I did as a young girl, because my past experience has really shaped me into the woman I have become today.

Name it and I have probably done it!

Crazy hair colours, i.e. purple, red??? Yeap! Pink and purple was my favorite hair colors.

Piercings?? I loved my piercings…I had my bottom lip and upper lip pierced.

Tattoos? Got one on my back when I was 17... what is the meaning of a cross with a rose in the middle again ??

Shaved hair/ bald?? Yes I thought I was the coolest chick on the block back in 06-07.

Excessive drinking?? My 21^st birthday in New York was a memorable one… if I even remembered anything. I had a hangover for 2days.

Dated bad boys?? OMG that shouldn’t even be a question. Bad boys were my back bone.

Partying every day?? Partying was my daily bread in university.

Crazy outfits?? Laughing out loud … I thought I was a “fashionista” back in the days. I’m not sure what happened to my fashion sense.


2007 - BEFORE


2012 - After

Will I ever go back and do the things I did when I was younger?

No, but I certainly reflect on them because they keeps me motivated to do what I do today.

Who am I today??

I am a strong christian, a wife, a potential mother, criminology /sociology graduate, an aspiring criminology lawyer, co-founder of Hands of a Hero, csc analyst, hairdresser, business woman, writer, mentor, and a risk taker.

This is just the beginning of greater and better things God is performing in my life. I am grateful and humble to the almighty God for guiding me through my darker days to my brighter days. 2012 has started just right; it will be a year of reflecting back and accomplishing more goals. In all I give thanks to God.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

WE GOT THE POWER !!!

2011-12-22T23:07:00.004-05:00

You must be wondering where am I going with this piece. Well, well, well… I will be discussing how women exercise power in relationships. Do you know that women have more power in their relationships than they think?

We got the power to make the world go around, so do not be manipulated by traditional values about power. Society perceive women as inferior and the weaker partner in relationships because men are molded to be the superior begin designed to make decisions. These societal values have been imbedded in the mindset of many women and have been programmed to say YES at all times to enhance male supremacy

What is my point??

OK! I was having a conversation with four of my female co-workers at work and the topic of power came up.

During our discussion, one of my co-workers told us an interesting situation which sparked my interest to write this piece. She said she just got out of a 7 years relationship about 5 months ago and she was having a hard time getting over it. She said “I have been extremely sad because I have always been submissive to him and never taught he will end the relationship”.

So as the conversation got more fascinating, she said to us “I have a problem saying NO to men. I am currently seeing someone right now but I had intercourse with this guy too early. I feel guilty about my actions and I really wish I can say NO sometimes… the funny thing is that I don’t even know the status of this relationship. I feel like a sex fling to him. I can’t say NO if he wants to see me because I’m scared he’s going to leave me too. I have developed some feelings for him but I’m certain that he doesn’t feel the same way about me.”

Let stop right here and Let me break it down.

Being submissive in your relationship does not mean you can’t say NO to your partner. As a woman, you should know where you stand because that would determine the success of your relationship. Men are more likely to mistreat, disrespect and take advantage of women that are afraid to say NO.

The truth is that women always had power from the moment God created us. But the problem is that some women have difficulties accessing this power through submissiveness. Although women are supposed to be submissive to their partner, it does not imply that we cannot access power through humility, meekness, patience and humbleness. Saying NO in respect to submissiveness does not make a woman difficult, stubborn and hardheaded. We are just exercising our power.

Don’t get me wrong or misunderstand me. We have all been in situations where we didn’t have the courage to say NO to something we disagreed with. Many years ago, NO was not part of my vocabulary. As I was getting mature, I came to the realization that I was not exercising the power I had. Honestly, learning to say NO has really boosted my self-esteem and enlighten my life

Practice to say the word NO.

NO I’m too good for you.

NO I don’t like the gift you gave me.

NO I’m not going to the movies with you.

NO I’m not sleeping with you.

NO I am not going out with you.

NO you have to wait till I am ready.

Learning how to say NO is an empowerment for one’s self because it gives us the authority to control situations. Learning to say NO can transform our life from negative to positive.

Utilize your power because you are in control of your own destiny

Cheers

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

Positive affirmations…Transforming life

2011-11-13T20:34:00.006-05:00

I use to wonder how I could attract positive energy to manifests in my life. I have concluded that the development of positive mindset is the most powerful life approach to a better life. I have been an advocate for positive thoughts for the past few years because I am a living testimony to this strategy.

We all know it is very difficult to develop positive energy or think positive in this distracting world. Some people believe that having a positive mindset about every situation in our life is not realistic. But, do you know that developing positive affirmations in your everyday life attract positive things on the personal and professional level?

Positive affirmations can be associated with the concept of “Law of attraction”. When you adapt to this technique, you begin to witness a positive transformation in your life. Positive thoughts change the mindset of individuals to have more passion about life. For instance, imagine waking up every morning, blasting excitement and joy for a new wonderful day. This will allow one to develop a positive attitude to life.

My success story about positive affirmations.

At the start of 2011, I had a lot of goals I had set to accomplish before the end of the year. Attaining an excellent career was the number one goal on my list. However, I kept in mind that my accomplishment would not come easy because good things are not straightforward but I was determined to obtain what my heart craved for.

I am a firm believer in taking risks in life. On September 9^th 2011, I woke up at 6am in the morning getting ready for work, and suddenly felt in my spirit I needed to quit my job. I made a major move that morning; I called my job and advised them that I will no longer be working with them again. It felt great the first couple of days, but afterward, I started having thoughts if this “big move” was the right move for me at that time knowing that I had no secure job waiting for me. Later on that week, I started reading books and some bible chapters to strengthen my thoughts and faith.

Having faith as a Christian means positive thoughts and having confidence that goodness will result out of the situation. Although I wasn’t working and didn’t have any source of income coming in, I still woke up in the morning happier than ever. I even decided to use my spare time to volunteer at my church convention for a month.

I had been applying for numerous jobs and attending jobs interviews that did not fit my criteria. On October 4^th, I applied for an analyst position at one of the major banks in Canada. Based on my qualifications and my educational background, I thought the position was way out of my lead. But I kept thinking positive and praying that God would open this major career path for me. Behold and behold, I was able to receive 2 interviews with this bank. Although, I had not been offered the position at the bank yet, I kept referring to the position as my job. At times I even told people that I was an analyst at the bank although my offer was not finalized.

From the moment I applied for the position, I refused to apply for any other job because I wanted to eliminate any second thoughts. This was how positive and certain I was about this job position. With some prayers and positive mindset, after a month of processing, I was offered the position. I started the job two months exactly after I terminated my position at my previous job. And to top it off, my starting salary is 50% more than my previous earning. This is what I call the genesis of tremendous possibilities.

Think positive, have faith and believe in yourself that you too can be great. God has granted us all the resources to become successful in this life, it is up to us on how we think about the resources and how to use them. Positive thinking and positive affirmations is a helpful technique to help us create and develop powerful and positive attitude towards life. With this power at hand, we can change failure to success and move up to new levels in life. Be and think positive.

To God be the Glory

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Priscilla Birago

I AM TROY DAVIS

2011-09-23T07:59:00.002-04:00

I am still in disbelief and extremely horrified at the inhumane and injustice act that took place on Wednesday night. The American Justice System has failed us once again! It’s not the first and it will not be the last. Georgia Parole Board denied clemency for Troy Anthony Davis, after being on death roll for two decades. Mr. Davis was accused for the murder of an off-duty officer in 1989.

This case has caused an international outrage and has many people asking if justice was really served. Personally, I believe justice was not served because Troy Davis was not guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Anyone that followed his case clearly knows that this case was not prosecuted properly. How can a man be executed for murder when there was no solid evidence supporting the case? In addition there was no DNA evidence connecting Mr. Davis to the murder.

Mr. Davis claimed his innocence till his death bed and before his execution, he said to his family and friends “continue to fight this fight.” In order words, his family and friends should fight to prove his innocence and his freedom that he has been fighting for two decades.

Freedom does not come easy to some individuals. Freedom is independence, free-will, liberty, choice, self –determination, autonomy, sovereignty, and lastly, lack of restriction. We all seek for freedom but freedom is not easily obtained for individuals like Troy Davis. It takes determination and a long fight to achieve it and sometimes it is not achieve at all. Nevertheless, freedom comes easily to certain individuals or groups that are more favored in the North American society.

Evidently, black people in our society have fought a great deal to achieve freedom. Since emancipation from slavery, black people still faces the biggest restrictions in the justice system. North American justice system is manipulated and systematically set up to favor the higher class society. Presently, there are a higher percentage of black people that are concentrated on lower level of society, which means that the justice system of the state favors black people the least.

I am still outraged by the route the state of Georgia took. Troy Davis was innocent and he has been claiming his freedom and innocence for two decades.

Troy Davis said “All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth." If troy Davis was white, I am certain that the system would have taken time to analyze his case careful and granted him freedom or reduced his sentence to life imprisonment. It sad to say this, but the justice system is unfair.

It would be understandable if there was solid evidence supporting the murder and if all nine people who testified against Troy Davis did not alter their initial testimony. But that was not the case, because seven of the nine trial witnesses recanted their testimony against him. The US Supreme Court took an unusual long period of time to come to a decision. Troy was still executed after all these factors surfaced and indicated that he might be innocent.

There is no justice for capital punishment or an eye for an eye principle. It is tragic how the US justice system keeps on failing. Retribution punishment is certainly not the solution to crime in a civilized society. In my opinion it is barbaric and this form of punish does not deter crime. No-one and I mean no-one has the right to take a life, including the Government.

Before Troy’s execution, he also said to the prison officers “may God have mercy on your souls. May God bless your souls.” And Yes, May God truly have mercy on their souls for taking his life.

I have now come to the conclusion that the “greatest nation” is not the greatest after all. It is uncivilized and has engaged in barbarism.

Many people have lost trust in the US justice system for many years because there are people that have been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. As a result, people have been losing hope that the justice system will not be there to support them if they were in a similar situation.

I am certain that one of the many reasons Georgia Parole Board denied the clemency is because they did not want the world to identify the inaccuracy and errors in the system.

If they reopened the case to prove Mr. Davis was innocent, it will give people more reasons to loose faith in the American justice system. In addition, it will also cause the government millions of dollars to reopen the case and keep Mr. Davis alive.

It is a tragedy that they sacrificed Troy Davis’ innocence to glorify the US Justice System. “May God have mercy on their souls and may God bless their souls.”

Troy Anthony Davis, You’re in a better place. May your soul rest in peace.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

ROAD TO EVERLASTING HAPPINESS

2011-09-18T21:54:00.007-04:00

Most women anticipate their wedding day from a very young age. They create in their imagination the type of man they would want to spend the rest of their life with. And when a woman diligently seeks the lord and prays for their heart desire, there comes a point in her life where she will find her true love. It may take many years and some a few years to find their King of the Kings but when that moment arrivals you know that they have been highly favored by the Most High God.

This piece is dedicated to my one and only Constance Love. Today is her 1^st week wedding anniversary and I can’t wait to celebrate her 10^th year wedding anniversary with her and her hubby.

Groomsmen and Bride-maids are just too beautiful :) No more words can describe it.

My beautiful and lovely childhood friends, can't wait to see everyone of you walk down the aisle. Love you all.

Over the past years, our friendship and sisterhood has blossomed into something beautiful and wonderful. I will forever be honored and grateful that my lovely sister chose me as her maid of honor; to stand by her and celebrate one the most significant days of her life with her.

Below is a piece of the speech I wrote for Constance Love on her wedding day.

Constance is one of the kindest and warmest people I have ever met in my life. Her Godly soul is full of humbleness and generosity. Constance cannot get angry or mad. She looks very funny when she tires to get angry because it not in her. Often times people’s names are just for identification purposes, However Constance love is dissimilar because she acquires all the great virtues to her middle name “Love”.

"Love is patient, love is kind. She does not envy, she does not boast, she is not proud. She does not dishonor others, she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, and she keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. She always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres”.(1 COR 13 :4-7).

I was reminded of the saying ‘the first impression goes a long way’ because when I meet Solomon for the first time, I knew in my gut that this would be the man Constance would spend the rest of her life with. He is extremely respectful, peaceful and his persona demonstrates that he truly loves and cares for Constance. His demeanor about life indicated that he was God fearing and that is one of the greatest virtues to find in a man.

Constance, you are highly favored. May God continue to bless and enrich this marriage for many many more years to come and bless it with prosperity, wellness and children. God bless you Solomon and Constance. You both have found your soul mate and I am extremely happy to see both of you start a new life together.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

BIG MOVES

2011-09-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

Dear Blog,

I took a very big risk this week. I called my work and advised them that I will no longer be working with them. Guess what?? I did not attempt to give them advance notice. Don't get me wrong, it was a good job with good pay but I felt like l didn’t belong there and that I could do better. It was a spontaneous move; A big move that would define and change my future.

I woke up early this morning in a different world, looking outside my window and thinking to myself if this so called “big move” was the right move. I felt like going back to bed and waking up with all my anxiety and worries disappearing. I knew it was impossible because that is not how life works. I immediately called my friend and could not stop crying on the phone. She said to me, “This is not you Priscilla, This is not the Priscilla that I know. I feel like am talking to a totally different person.” I couldn’t stop crying because I knew this was not me. I said, “Priscilla better days are coming, pull yourself up because you have tough skin".

In life, you must take risk to know where you belong in this world

I know a new era has begun and the old era has been diminished. This year has been going as planned and most of my goals has been accomplished. I will not allow the devil to twist my mind, and have me think that I made the wrong choice. I now know I made the right decision because I am about to achieve my biggest goal by far this year. God will continue to guild me and lead me to the right path.

Prissy is all about taking big risks.. Lets goooooooooo baby!!!!

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

WHAT IS YOURRR LATTE FACTOR???

2011-08-30T21:55:00.008-04:00

Dear Blog

One of my Goals for 2011 was to gain better financial stability. Honestly, we all know it is hard to eliminate our spending habits from our daily activities. Most of us are addicted to spending. I tried to use one of the saving techniques, which was writing and planning accordingly, and trying to eliminate unnecessary spending. And trust me; it was not an easy one! So, I have been searching and reading books on financial freedom to help strengthen my mind in the financial realm.

I discovered that we are all programmed to spend what we earn. The more we earn, the more we spend on lavish things to “try” to live comfortably. We all desire to attain a good job so that we would be able to“save”. So we say! But the truth is, wealth is not built on how much money we earn but how we plan to spend our money and what we invest the money in.

I came across this angelical book called “Start Late, Finish Rich” by David Bach. Believe me, this book is amazing! I believe this book did not just land in my hands for an irrelevant reason but rather a tool from God to teach me on some of the important techniques to financial freedom. While reading the book, I discovered a financial strategy called “Latte Factor”. Latte Factor is a concept created to enable us to become aware of the unnecessary “little expenditures” that we waste our money on, without realizing how much they add up to.

The purpose of this concept is to allow us to track our daily spending, and become more conscious of the money we waste on little things like, Starbucks coffee, chocolate bars, Spas or Dinning out every day. And while monitoring our spending, we take some of the money and deposit it into an investment account, example RRSP. By doing so, we will be saving a fortune when we least expect it.

I found my Latte Factor

Before Work

Apple or Orange juice =$ 1.50

Bagel with strawberry cream cheese = $ 1.89

At 10:30

Timmy’s medium fruit smoothie =$3.48

Timmy’s Chicken wrap =$2.59

M&M =$1.00

Noon (No lunch)

Mr Greek Roast chicken dinner =$7:78

_______________________________________

Average total daily spending = $18.24

If I take $ 15 a day from my daily spending and deposit it in my investment account, guess how much I would be saving …

Assumes 10% Annual Rate of Return

Daily Investment	Monthly Investment	10 Years	20 Years	30 Years	40 Years	50 Years
$15	$450	$92, 180	$341,716	$1,017,220	2,845,836	$7,795,976

Hypothetically, if I and my significant other or a friend is saving together, in a span of 50 years we will save $ 15,591,952

Over 15 million dollars will be saved if I cut out my little lavish things.

Dear Blog, It’s really mind blowing.

I really wish they taught this in school…but I’m glad to say, I have now found my latte factor , WHAT ABOUT YOU??

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

IS GOD A VENDING MACHINE???

2011-08-07T22:11:00.009-04:00

Oh God, Oh God, Oh God

“I need you right now. I know I haven’t been very good lately, but I promise if you help me pass this exam, I will be really good. I have not been trying my best to study for this exam but God you said we shall ask and you shall give it to us. So God, I am praying and asking you right now, please please please pleaseeeeee help me pass this exam and I promise I will not party before my exams again. Pleaseeeeeee God pleaseeeeeee . Amen”

This was one of my many prayers during exams period in first year university. Thinking back, I treated God like a vending machine. I constantly expected God to grant me all my “wants” after praying. I finally grasp that God does not work that way. God does not respond to all our prayers instantly. He examines our current situation, and decides if our desires will be beneficial to us at that present time; then he takes action! If it's not beneficial, he would refuse our request until we are in the right position to receive our wishes.

Imagine how this world would be if every prayer was answered?!

About month ago, I was waiting for the face of God for 15days.During this time, I prayed for certain possessions, however I was aware that not all my prayers would be answered instantaneously.

Few weeks after, I was conversing with my male friend and about 15mins into the conversation, he randomly said, “After the 15days of fasting and praying, have you received any results from God yet? I said yet?!! Honestly, I was shocked he would ask me such an irrational question. I made it clear to him that I am not expecting things to happen right away. Excellent results will come when God is ready to grant it to me.

Many times we treat God like a vending machine, expecting to press the right button and receive exactly what we requested for. We select A-6 and expect to receive Hershey chocolate but when we receive the wrong product or receive nothing, we tend to get irate. God does not perform in such manner. He works on his own will and gives us the gifts he knows we are prepared enough to handle when the right time approaches. God will not respond to our prayers when we are not mature or equip enough to handle it.

Why do we get angry or lose faith when we feel like God is not answering our prayers?

Is God a Vending machine? NO!! Vending machine has many malfunctions. Sometime it steals our money; it may be out-of-order or run out of products. And when this happens to us, we may try to kick it or even shake it, hoping that the machine will grant us what we wanted. God does not work that way; he never malfunction when he’s at work. God evaluates our capacity and our current circumstances before he grants us our desires. He ensures our faith is strong and we are prepared enough to handle what he bestows to us.

We should remember to treat God like God and not a mindless machine. There is no price on his endless love and gifts. He’s not a seller but a free giver. We should operate in confidence and faith and once our capacity is develop to a level that is acceptable to God, we will claim our possessions.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago

LITTLE MIRACLES

2011-07-24T18:05:00.006-04:00

I profess; God is changing my reality into a transforming living testimony. One word to describe it; Miraculous! God works in mysterious ways and it always amazes me. Sometime we may wonder why things happen and why it happened to us. We should be appreciative and realize that everything happens for a purpose. God performs “little miracles” in our lives everyday, every-minute and every-second. Often times, we never acknowledge it or recognize the “little miracles” in our lives. For example, being able to wake up every morning, being able to talk and walk and being able to drive home safe are all "little miracles." We take our “little miracles” for granted!! Many times God manifest to us through our "little miracles", but often, we don’t comprehend the new direction the spirit of God is leading us to. As result, the devil discovers a new approach to divert us from God and try to dispossess our destiny.

Heaviness is one of the major distractions the devil uses as a platform to derive us from reaching to the top. Feeling heavy hearted or unhappy is the devils antics to move us from our ordained destiny.

I was once a victim! Couple of weeks ago, on my sister’s graduation, my heart was excessively heavy. A day of rejoice was transformed into a day of sorrow. I felt my heart was in the wrong place and I couldn’t identify the roots of my sadness. To make matter worse, I went to bed the same night not only feeling heavy but angry as well. I woke up the next morning feeling worse than before.

While I was on my way to work that morning, my mind started to wonder and make up negative reasons as to why I was feeling heavy. The more I wondered, the more I found myself trenched in depression. I knew this feeling was not from God. So I decided to turn to my everyday therapy, Reading!! The book I was reading for the week was called “In Pursuit of Vision by David Oyedepo. I began to read where I left off. Ironically the chapter I was reading at that particular time was about being free of cares, worries and anxiety. Right there, I knew God was manifesting and speaking to me through this book. I came across a section in the chapter that was discussing about heaviness.

I discovered that “heaviness is a spirit (Isaiah 61:3). It is one of Satans strategies for stripping God’s people naked…No reason is strong enough to cast us down as wherever casts us down has succeeded in making us a failure. The devil steals people’s joy so he can make victims of them. But we have the gift of joy from the most high God. Heaviness takes us out of our father’s house and places us where the enemy can flog us. But if we see a glorious tomorrow, no devil can cast us down. If we can see what lies ahead of us, we can afford to insult the devil and slap his face."(Oyedepo, 2008)

The moment I read “insult the devil and slap his face” I read it over again and began to smile and laugh out loud because I knew the devil was a lair .I will forever slap and laugh in his face because he has been defeated. My joy was restored back to me after reading the chapter in the book. Some people may not find this as a major transformation, but I consider this to be one of my “little miracles.” God shifted my mind in minutes because he spoke to me through this book, to demonstrate how powerful he is. Reading the book was what I call a therapy from God aka “little miracles.” I was once searching to identify nature or the roots of the heaviness but after seeking the therapy from God, I concluded that the devil is the roots of heaviness. Hence, rejoice and acknowledge the Lord for the “little miracles” in our everyday lives.

**Express and Reflect on your World**

Sincerely,

Prissy Birago