I do not like to write unless the Lord instructs me to write on the topic. Sometimes I write a blog, and people say, “Brother Dane, that was a good blog. You should write a part two to it.” Or I talk with individuals, and they recommend topics to write about. But I will always listen, and at times I tell them, “God has not told me to write about that topic as yet.”

I say this because I am not being led in any significant way to write this blog today. This blog is me writing because I want to honor Bernice & Nizam, and I pray that God gives me the words. As the word of God states, “give honor to others around you,” and I guarantee you that Bernice and Nizam are deserving of double honor. So, who are these wonderful people, Bernice & Nizam, that I am speaking about?

Let me start with my parents, who did not actively attend church but ensured we attended as children and teenagers. Therefore, I must thank them for laying the spiritual foundations by making church a necessity. Now, if my parents were not going to church, how did we get to the house of the Lord? Well, this is where Bernice & Nizam enter the picture. They faithfully provided our transportation to the house of the Lord every Sunday for years. My siblings and I, along with so many children, benefited from these two wonderful people. We met the Lord, and the Lord met us as teenagers because Bernice & Nizam were the conduit for establishing this godly connection.

As an adult, I was baptized by another Christian body, but I would still see them at times transporting children to church. Their love and care did not stop with transportation. Whenever I saw them, they would always ask about my brother and sister who live abroad. I have seen children under their stewardship die as adults, and they would find out and attend the funerals to offer support. Even recently, when my mother passed away, they visited us in the hospital while she was ailing, then visited us at home twice. On the last day they visited, they brought us a book of quotes and comforting words and went so far as to ask, “Is there anything they can do to support and help?” We presented them with a financial love gift, and after much coaxing, they accepted it. My God, these people are lovely and truly embody Christian love. In the eyes of my siblings and me, they are special people who, without question, lived a servant’s life.

When they visited us last week, we learned that Nizam walked to find children in the community and brought them to church before he purchased his vehicle. Yes, read that again. He walked all over the village to collect children. Do you know how hard it is to walk all over the place first to find these children, then, on a Sunday morning, to dress and walk to bring them to church for a timely start, and then to carry them back each week for years?

Knowing how they lived has me seriously questioning what a servant’s life looks like for me. To me, there is also a distinction between being a servant and living a servant’s life. The main difference is that one is an act of serving, while the other is a lifestyle of service.

My dad always used to say, “We all stand on the shoulders of others,” meaning no one reaches their status or standing in life without someone influencing them. Or, put another way, “we all walk over bridges others have built.” Whether it’s a teacher in school, parents at home, friends, or random encounters with people, all of them have influenced our lives. Every encounter plants a seed, and the more seeds that are planted, the greater the probability of a harvest that aligns with that type of seed. I give God thanks for the seed of Bernice & Nizam because I can unequivocally state that I am a Christian today because of them.

Bernice and Nizam influenced and affected the lives of my siblings and me and so many others. I can firmly say that my siblings and I are believers today because of their impact. Readers of my book and blogs are benefiting from what Bernice & Nizam established in me. As the Bible states, we are called for a blessing to be a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).  It is about receiving and paying it forward in one form or another.

Even as I pen these words, I pause with deep emotion and gratitude to reflect on what they have done. Therefore, I must stop and give honor to those who have transformed my life in such a significant way and given me access to the Heavenly Father.

At this point, I would like to ask you to also reflect on the people in your life who have given you access to opportunities or positively influenced you in some way. Why not give them a call to say thanks? What will it hurt to do this today? Take 5 minutes out of your day to show appreciation and give honor to someone who made an impact. Make that phone call to make someone’s day, because they helped make your life!

I close by sharing with you one of my favourite quotes that I live by:

“When you give, never remember; when you get, never forget!”

PS: Dane Miller was last seen writing down a list of numbers to make some important phone calls.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller – “God is the Author, I am the Pen”

Authored Book – What is the Woman Saying – Lessons from Biblical Women.

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