These are probably not the best descriptions to the saying, but they resonated with me and so decided to go for them .
1. The first time you experience something is always the most meaningful and remarkable time, because you have never experienced it before- Anonymous
2. It means the first time you have been betrayed by someone you love and trust is much more painful than subsequent betrayals- you build up armor after the first betrayal and it’s hard to restore that level of trust ever again- Anonymous
There’s an interesting story in the Bible were a young man’s plans to marry the girl of his dreams kind of take a left turn. Joseph, Mary’s husband to be is asked to put his plans of walking down the aisle with Mary on hold until “further notice.”
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
I can’t help but imagine an excited “Brother” Joseph from one of the mega churches probably “blowing his own trumpet” as he’s ready to marry, singing along to Limoblaze and Johnny Drills “This Love” or Pompi and Mag44 “Wishing” and then his plans are suddenly changed, for him. Let’s bear in mind that there’s a testimony of Joseph’s faithfulness being mentioned and even with that, the young man was still almost calling it quits ( vs19 c, he had in mind to divorce her quietly) but I mean, nobody can blame him. I can imagine how “let down” he might have felt, not by Mary but by God. He was a faithful man, one among the very few described as a JUST MAN and this was his reward? A delay in marrying his favorite girl, fleeing to another land for their safety, waiting for probably over 9 months to rightly marry her, and let’s not even get into contemplating the trauma he might have gone through being the one to witness the entire birth process (since most commentaries say that there were possibly no midwives), yet he stood by her.
Now, Joseph’s story might not be your story. Let’s take, for instance, I’m currently having issues with my professor concerning my thesis topic, something that could’ve been resolved way back but it’s been back and forth since last year September. Want to talk about broken hearts in friendships, I’ve been there. Failing at school, not meeting personal goals, just to name a few, friend! I’ve been there
Imagine throwing in the towel at every seemingly difficult turn? You’ll clog the earth ? because harsh times/ days are inevitable but it doesn’t nullify the GOD FACTOR, but only magnifies it. Jesus in the garden of gethsemane goes through some terrible discomfort as He realizes how heavy the price He’s yet to pay for you and I to be free. Regardless, He goes to the cross.
Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
I remember almost calling it quits on my first day as an obstetrics intern. With so much excitement and zeal, I woke up that Tuesday morning, February 23, 2021. I reported for work early enough with the desire to give a good impression and was directed to go and meet one of the ladies in charge of the hospital science department more like a matron( she basically deals with all of the registration shenanigans regarding the new interns, creates their working schedule, picking up ID cards and collecting the Doctor’s coats). It almost felt like the day was over because I was extremely exhausted, keep in mind that the offices I needed to collect these things were far apart, like really far apart.
Finally, the time I had been waiting for, going to meet the Doctor I’d be working with for the first 3 to 4 months. The “matron” didn’t say much when we got to her office but just introduced me by my Chinese name and said I’d be working with her. “The poor woman”, I thought… or was that actually her thought of me.? Lol “ How will I communicate with this little fine brown-skinned girl” ?
She looked at me in shock so visible even through her mask, and I immediately began to wonder if she was told about me beforehand . Her outpatient was super packed, she had about 60 patients to see that morning. So I sat down until she finally finished with the patients. Apparently, she had a meeting that afternoon, so she sent me to meet another Doctor for the rest of the day and that we’d meet the following morning. Honestly, my heart just sank because she didn’t really ask any questions or say anything else apart from the time she was abandoning me with this “wonderful aunty”. Not what I was expecting, I was already drained from the movement and now that seemingly cold reception, I just couldn’t wait to go back to school at this point. I really complained in my heart and was even making resolutions on talking to my Professor to send me to another Doctor or maybe reshuffle my schedule and send me to a different outpatient clinic. Thing is, an average Chinese person is very curious after meeting a foreigner for the first time, apart from the usual QUESTIONS asked, there’s one most important thing, exchanging WeChat contacts even if you never communicate, but that usually happens on first meetings.
? Dr. Sunny though is different. At least I know this now ♥️
Wednesday came, I got to the office wiped the Doppler machine, the measuring tape, and the table, arranged the seats too. This lovely lady came to the office at 8 am, with a beautiful smile, she didn’t attend to any patients for the first hour or an hour and a half. We talked, and she asked all the questions I wished she asked, lol. And that’s how our FRIENDSHIP started…. She talked about much she wants to revise her medical English knowledge and decided that we’d communicate in English only unless it becomes really hard. She bought herself a book where she’d write down everything we talked about, and especially things that I didn’t understand and she couldn’t explain right away, she’d go home and gather all the information and bring it to me written in English, with her time and heart definitely. She created a schedule for me with daily, weekly and monthly assignments. She always made sure my time was put to good use, whenever she had her usual afternoon meetings, she’d send me to the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic to learn how some postpartum conditions are treated especially pain-related. And also the nutrition and pelvic infections clinics. And till date, there never passes a week or day that I don’t show up to her clinic or office.
I can’t even begin to explain how wonderful this woman has been to me and just how much I’ve learned from her.
? Sometimes I ask myself, what would have happened if I laid a complaint on that day? What would’ve become of me if I decided to leave that day?
? God is all knowing and is our Master, but Imagine if Joseph decided to flee and quietly diverse Mary as he planned despite the instruction he was given.
? Imagine Jesus not going to the cross for you and I.
But I will just conclude by saying this, the first cut isn’t always the deepest? It could be a test…. of your patience, perseverance, resilience name it. There’s always something better on the other side so don’t throw in the tile just yet. There are people looking up to you because you’re a pillar of encouragement to them, there’s a breakthrough laying ahead for you to walk into, there’s a success story with your name on it!
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
✨ Brace on!
✨ Brave on!
✨ A bad investment doesn’t make you a failure.
✨ The first fail is not final
✨ The first disappointment does not limit your appointments
✨ The first heartbreak is not the end of the world
✨ There’s always purpose in the pain
Mathew 19: 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
? THE FIRST CUT IS A TEST….
Move on
Live on
MOST IMPORTANTLY THRIVE!