My beloved granddaughter, EmilyBoo, is five years old today. She is such a sensitive, kind-hearted and nurturing little girl, and with her cute curiosity and impeccably good manners, she can win over even the crankiest person. I am so proud of how she is coming into her own by embracing who she is and taking every opportunity to touch the lives of others with her beautiful empathy.

EmilyBoo loves camping trips to our country’s beautiful national parks, and therefore, I decided to incorporate Africa’s Big Five into today’s birthday reflection. Animals are what they are, they remain authentic to their nature and they live by the law of nature or the way of the wild, whether it be cruel or kind. In our upside-down human world where fake is growing disturbingly deeper, the authenticity of animal behaviour is a fresh breeze of uncomplicatedness. Here is a simple overview of the Big Five:

LION

Bold & brave

The lion is referred to as the “king of the jungle”. They are powerful apex predators, which means that they are at the top of the food chain and they are not preyed upon by other animals. They are bold and feared by all, but they are also brave and fearless.

LEOPARD

Agile & adaptive

Like the lion, the leopard is also an apex predator. Unlike lions with strong pack structures, leopards are solitary and elusive animals. Their stealth, agility and camouflage make them unpredictable and almost untraceable.

RHINO

Unapologetic & unmovable

The rhino is intimidating due to its massive size and it is naturally armoured due to its thick skin. Rhinos are known for having volatile tempers and they can suddenly charge upon even the slightest provocation.

ELEPHANT

Intelligent & intentional

The elephant is the largest and smartest animal of the Big Five. They are strong and intelligent and they display profound nurturing and protective herd behaviour. Their impressive memory capabilities enable them to apply wisdom to decision-making, a quality which makes them a force to be reckoned with.

BUFFALO

Strong & safe

The buffalo is a strong, aggressive animal. They find safety and security in large herds which deter predators from attacking them. When they are threatened, it causes them to stampede which holds profound danger due to the size of their herds.

FIVE SIMPLE LIFE LESSONS FOR ALL BELIEVERS:

1. The LION might be the king of the jungle, but our King Jesus is the King of the universe and He wants us to be righteous. Be BOLD and speak up against unrighteousness and be BRAVE enough to do what is right and live a righteous life.
2. Like the LEOPARD, be AGILE and ADAPTABLE. There will be times when you will be all alone in what you do, other people will not see it or hear about it. That is okay, because it doesn’t change who you are.
3. Like the RHINO, be UNAPOLOGETIC and UNMOVABLE. There will be times when you will be in a space where everyone can see you and what you do. People will not always be kind in what they say and/or do to you. Be sure to grow a thick skin when that happens so that other people’s nastiness cannot pierce your precious heart.
4. The ELEPHANT is the smartest of the Big Five and their herds are led by females. Like the ELEPHANT, be INTELLIGENT and INTENTIONAL. Always nurture and protect that which is precious to you, do not be ashamed of your intelligence and be led by Godly wisdom. Fun fact – wisdom, according to Proverbs, is female too…just saying.
5. Like the BUFFALO, be STRONG and SAFE. Make it a priority to find belonging in a community of like-minded, fellow believers where you can minister and be ministered to.

FIVE SIMPLE LIFE LESSONS FOR FIVE-YEAR-OLDS:

1. Jesus is the King of everyone and everything! He wants us to be good and do the right things. Say NO to bad stuff and do your best to do what is good.
2. Even when you’re on your own and nobody sees that you do good things, it’s okay. You are still you and you are awesome!
3. You don’t ever have to say sorry for being you or for doing good. Be tough around nasty people and keep you heart happy!
4. Girls make excellent leaders and they take great care of all that they love. Don’t ever hide how smart you are and trust God for His wisdom. Fun fact – the Bible says that wisdom is a girl!
5. Find friends who love Jesus just like you do, because together you can help each other and introduce Jesus to those who don’t know Him.

Happy fifth birthday, my dearest EmilyBoo, I love you so much more than I can even say! ❤️

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to simplify life a little. Perhaps all of us could be 5 years old (with you) for just a little while….I know I would like that!