From Ashes to Glory

The first time I read her story, I was blown away. Hardly is there anyone in the account of the history of the world who has risen so far to such a high level of wealth and influence from a ground bottom of abject poverty as she has done. She was born by a single teenage mother. Her assumed father left her mother not long after a single sexual encounter that led to her conception. Her mother was a housemaid. And after her birth, her mother traveled north and left her in the hands of her grandmother. She lived in lack and was so poor that she often wore dresses made of potato sacks, and children in the neighborhood would come and make fun of her. Her grandmother taught her to read before the age of three and took her to the local church, where she was nicknamed as ' The Preacher' for being a brilliant young girl who recites the Bible verses every time. 

She later moved and went to stay with her mother, who gave birth to another daughter around that time. However, as her mother was having difficulties taking care of her and her younger sister, she was sent to live with the man she would call her father, Vernon. Initially, she had been sexually molested by her cousin when she was nine years old. And at age 13, she ran away from home after several sufferings. When she was 14, she became pregnant and delivered a son, but her son was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. She got involved with drugs and entered the company of emotionally abusive men. But she wouldn't give up on her dreams. She had a spirit that would not be destroyed. She puts all her hurtful experiences in the past and determined to learn, grow and succeed in life. She became a top student in high school, won public-speaking contests and the state beauty pageant. And to add more, she won a full university scholarship and came out with a first degree in communication. 

Her first job was working at a local grocery store. Her big break came when she got an offer from a local radio station. She puts in all her best and it wasn't long before her hard work and talent would earn her a spot in television news. She got so involved in her stories, and sometimes became so emotional with her guests during her talk shows. She took the TV talk show to another level. And before anyone knew it, it has become the number one spotlight in the city, and the top-rated spot in the entire nation. Within a few years, her show had gained the highest number of viewers of any talk show all over the world. And she was on her way to launching a series of successful TV and radio shows, magazines, websites, charities, and the world's most influential book club. She was a millionaire in her thirties, and before you know it, she became a billionaire. 

She's often described as one of the most powerful women in the world, and one of the greatest philanthropists of all time. I'm sure by now, you must have guessed right who I'm sharing her story. She is Oprah Winfrey. She came from the rock bottom of life to a high level of wealth and significance. Is there anything you think you've lost in your life? Or maybe it's your detestable past that is meddling with your present. I don't want you to feel discouraged. Dust away your past and begin to work on your future. If nothing could stop Oprah from achieving her goals in life, nothing can stop you. 

God bless you!

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- Excerpt from my book, Life in God's Hands. It's available on Amazon. Please follow this link to get your own copy: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Gods-Hands-Abiola-Olojo/dp/1734803096/ref=en_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=life+in+god%27s+hands+by+abiola+ olojo & qid = 1626686770 & sr = 8-1