6 Simple Words

When someone thinks of you what words are associated with you?  For me Rodney, Rodi, Rods, Rod, De’Gregory, Big Rod, Rayna Daddy, Rawson Daddy, Nadia Husband, Mr. Bain.  All names associated with myself.   Christian, Father, Brother, Frater, Hard Worker, Friend, Confidant.  All words associated with myself.  However, I want there to be six simple words used for me.  This words will summarize all the positive uplifting words that I just mention. These words will encompass all these and more.  The words are, 

“There goes Rodney De’Gregory Bain Junior!” 

My name is Rodney De’Gregory Bain Jr.  I am husband, a father, a son, a brother, a speaker, a mentor, a friend and a Christian.  From a young age I always wanted to make a positive, lasting impact on The Bahamas and the world at large.  I always appreciated the life lessons I picked up along the way.  These help shape me into the man I am today.  Whether positive or negative, all of them had a purpose.  

Growing up helping my mother lift things around the yard, I truly appreciated the saying, “a man must carry his own weight”.  And always being a big fellow, I knew I had a great deal of weight to carry.  Quickly I learned it was not the physical weight that was the heaviest, but the emotional and spiritual weight that was often the toughest to bear.  It is in my early years too where I found my love for God.  During tough times I looked to the Father for guidance and one thing that always stood out to me was, “He will never put more on us than we can bear.”  So I would square my shoulders, plant my feet and keep pushing.  

As a youth, I always was looking for a good example of a man to fashion myself after.  In my early years I did not have the civic heroes of yesteryear, there were no Marcus Garvey’s, no Malcolm X’s.   There were no political heroes in my day.  All the men, outside of those in my family, were not becoming of a young man’s role model.  The leaders were either corrupt, immoral or non existent.  The positive male was scarce commodity during my youth.  Therefore I need to be that role model for the youth of today and also encourage my peers to be the same. 

One thing I stress is the importance of family.  It is because of them that I will do all within my power to provide for them.  They are my first ministry.  If I save all the families in the world but lose mine then I have failed.  As a father and husband I am no longer just responsible for myself, but for the well being of my wife, my daughter and my son as well.  I thank God everyday for blessing me with them.

It is because of my family, I aspire to be greater each and every day.  A quote from one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, is always in the front of my mind.  “When you want something, the whole universe conspires together for you to get it.”  And I fervently believe this.  My God is an amazing God, who does great things and He tells me all I have to do is ask, so I will ask for great things and the most He can tell me is no, but I am comforted in knowing that no matter the answer I know it is for my best interest.  I want to be known for great things from the right people.  I want that at the end of my life, my God and my wife can unequivocally state that I was a good man.

At the end of it all, what will be said about you?  Will those who matter, have the best to say?  Or will those minor characters be the only ones singing your praises?  I made a pack with myself years ago, I do not care who speaks highly of me, if my wife and my children cannot stand tall and say Rodney was a good man, then I have failed.  If I cannot go before my God and show the wonders I have done with the treasures He has given me then I failed.  If I cannot leave the world better than I met it then I have failed.  I look to have my name synonymous with great, positive, prosperous things that my epitaph will just have just need six simple words to perfectly encompass it all. 

“Here lies Rodney De’Gregory Bain Junior”