4 Essential Lessons from Olajumoke

Olajumoke… the name on everyone’s lips. The name that effortlessly broke our internet without a strategically mapped out publicity stunt. I’m not sure Jumoke is even your average Internet consumer, yet, her story has gone viral on the same platform, touching lives and inspiring many creations.

I first got wind of the Olajumoke story when top Nigerian photographer TY Bello, posted the picture of the Agege bread seller making her ‘modeling’ debut on the set of TY and Tinie’s shoot. My first thought was “Yea, she does look like a model”. Fine, I was impressed by the incident “I hope they find her o” and then on to the next interesting blog post. Then came an update to the story: Olajumoke had been found. YaaaaY!!!  

Reading all the updates on the story, I couldn’t help but learn some MIGHTY lessons. I’m definitely not the only one; she trended on Twitter and all of a sudden, many folks started praying to the God of Olajumoke. Powerful!

Here are 4 things I learnt from Olajumoke the Bread Seller:

FAVOUR ABOVE LABOUR

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Rom.9:16 (ESV)

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the illiterate Agege bread seller on the cover of ThisDay Style was “Mehn! She didn’t have to do PR for this o!” I imagined the amount some of our ‘celebs’ and ‘gbogbo bigz girls’ pay to be on that same cover, many of them probably still on one waiting list or another. It just had to be God, yea? Right from that blessed day she stumbled on a shoot. She had a photoshoot with TY Bello, lemme rephrase, THE TY Bello. 

She was made up by THE Bimpe Onakoya, all without paying a dime! It’s not always about money. When God is ready for you, there’s no denying it, He’s ready… And there’s nothing that can be done about it! On Olajumoke’s mind that day might have been a prayer to make as much sales as possible. Little did she know that her life was about to be catapulted out of the ordinary into the miraculous.

FAITHFULNESS IN THE LITTLE THINGS

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”. Eccl.9:10a

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.”Luke16:10 NLT

Here’s a woman who is a 27-year old mother of two. She hawks bread to support her husband –a glasscutter- in fending for the family. Her miracle did not meet her at home nagging. It did not meet her complaining to God about the unfairness and inequalities of life. It met her WORKING! Sure, it wasn’t much, but it was something. You’re expecting that ‘ghen-ghen’ miracle, so you refuse to make any effort abi? Issokay, stay dia! Don’t worry. Olajumoke stumbled on something, yea? You sef will soon stumble on something! I’m just not sure you’ll like what you stumble on *Shaking my head and walking away*

ALL YOU NEED TO SUCCEED, IS IN YOU!

“To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” Matt.25:15

When her picture first appeared, the unlearned Agege bread seller was mistaken by most for a model. And boy, did they think she was hot! The thing here is, she’d obviously never seen herself in that light before. The small time hairstylist who came to Lagos to make a better life for her family probably did not care much for the modeling world and its attractions. Yes, she was in the hair beauty business, but she obviously never thought beyond that for herself. YET, she was mistaken for a model. It was in her all along. And did you hear TY’s comments?

“She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn't recognize her. She moved different too. Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life… I knew we had found a star"

THE BIG CHANGE TAKES ONLY A MOMENT

I don’t know for how long she’s been hawking bread, but I know that when Olajumoke’s time of visitation came, there was no trumpet sound, drum roll or fireworks. So you’ve been faithful in your little and you’re discouraged because nothing really good has come out of it. Dear brother, Dear sister, be encouraged! Lift up your head, get on with your hustle, and remain confident knowing that your reward is closer to you now than ever before!

Peace y'all   *Dancing to I don get alert, Godwin!*