By Olubunmi Adebayo
*The recent demise of the iconic global music star – Dolly Rebecca Parton, brings to mind her all time popular song “MY COAT OF MANY COLOURS”.*
*This song is a critical element in the concept of “From Rags to Robes of Royalty” perspective of life.*
*This is the story of the award winning American singer, song writer, musician, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist who lived for over 80 years.*
*There are lots of lessons in enlightenment and education for us to pick up from her story on “My Coat of Many Colours”.*
*It was the story of how Dolly Parton’s mother made what the Mum called a “Coat of Many Colours” for her daughter -Dolly, but which her friends at school called a “Coat of Rags”.*
*According to Dolly : somebody gave her family a collection of rag-like-clothes, which her mother sowed together to make a “Coat” for her daughter who wanted one to wear, with the story of Joseph in the Bible wearing the Coat of Many Colours among the 12 sons of Jacob to back up the action of her Mum.*
*Dolly had prior to that moment never had or wore a coat before.*
*On getting to school, Dolly’s friends taunted and mocked her by saying she was wearing rags, but she responded that it was a “Coat of Many Colours” which her mother had made for her. She asked her colleagues if they had never heard about the story of Joseph wearing the Coat of Many Colours in the Bible before?*
*Dolly said her family at that point in time had no money, but she felt she was rich in her “Coat of Many Colours” which she was proud of wearing.*
*Dolly Parton later in life went on to become one of the most successful, one of the richest and longest running singers in American music history (over 50 years singing career). Winning several Grammy Awards and breaking several global musical record charts thereby.*
*LESSON :*
*1) Learn to be self contented with what you have, and teach your children to do same with whatever they have in life.*
*Our children must be thought to be satisfied with whatever their parents could afford to give them.*
*2) You may have a poor background, but if you are sufficiently diligent and focused, this will not put your back to the ground. Do not, because of what you are facing today, ever write yourself off.*
*3) This story clearly demonstrates that everyone of us (man or woman) has enough potential in us to outgrow any limiting and shameful background that we might have come from.*
*4) We are to build up our self confidence. If you lack this, then you lack everything, and you go nowhere. The colleagues of Parton told her she was wearing rags, she said no, it was a coat, and indeed, of many colours. Some people would have become instant wrecks were such comments made about them. But not Parton. Don’t allow the comments or non-acceptance of others to kill your morale in your journey of life.*
*I may not know which aspect of this story fascinates you or applies to you, or the lessons here stated, but know that if you do not give up on life, things can still turn around for your good.*
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
