Sometimes ‘no’ means ‘yes.’
Most men would agree with the above statement when it comes to talking to most women. And most women would agree with the above statement when it comes to dialog with most men. In 1997, R&B group Destiny’s Child even confirmed this sentiment with their billboard topping & platinum single, “No, No, No.” The groups lyrics were simple, “You’ll be sayin’ no, no, no, no, no / When it’s really yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” because simply put, sometimes ‘no’ means ‘yes.’
It seems we do everything within our power to avoid hearing this ‘no’ word. Those two letters seem to have more power to us than its more endearing counterpart, ‘yes.’ ‘No’ makes us try harder while ‘yes’ can breed complacency. When a confident man asks a lady out and she says no, he will do all within his power until she says yes. But when a woman say yes to the date, after a while of dating some men grow complacent.
In life, we’ve been trained to believe that ‘no’ is a bad word. When we’re young, hearing our parents say no to anything we ask is reasonable cause to fall out and throw a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store aisle. When we’re older and refused a job offer or promotion, we think it’s the end of the world. From inception, our minds are designed to detest denial, but the word, ‘no’ is like life insurance – it protects us and also protects the people we love. How many times have you wanted something so damn badly only to be denied and later realize that ‘no’ was the best thing that could have ever happened to you? Sometimes ‘no’ means ‘yes’ to your life.
God’s ‘no’ is life’s ‘yes.’ We pray for certain things and God says, “This will ruin you and you’ll come to me to fix it later; I’m protecting you because I love you and have something better for you.” All we hear is, ‘No.’ We pray for what we want, but God gives us what we need.
My grandma recently told me the story of how she met my grandpa. She was actually supposed to meet another guy that day, but she left because the guy snuck away to see another woman before planning to meet with my grandma. My grandmamma don’t play that! Needless to say she caught wind of it and decided to ditch the date. She went to her friend’s house instead. That day in 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio my grandmother met my grandfather at her friends house and they were together ever since. Sometimes ‘no’ means ‘yes’ to your life!
Don’t allow a ‘no’ to imprison your soul. Just know that it’s God’s way of saying, “Wait, and I’ll tell you when to go.” We give the word ‘no’ too much power. The only power it has is the power to remind you that what God has for you is for you – no two letters can stop the mighty power of God.
Next time someone tells you, “No,” smile and say, “Thank You, Lord.”
Pleasantries.
– Enitan Bereola, II
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Bereola is the go-to style and etiquette impresario, public speaker and entrepreneur. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed BEREOLAESQUE: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette book for the Urban Sophisticate. He is working on his follow-up, Guide to Ladies’ Etiquette from a Gentleman’s Perspective. Find him at his new website bereolaesque-online.com, or@bereolaesque on Twitter as well as his Facebook fan page.
