Hello Friends,

Happy new year to you all. Yes, I said it…. even though it’s February, but it’s the first time I’m writing to you this year. It’s a new year for me in more ways than one…. it’s my birthday today and I’m choosing to write to you. Yep!!! That’s to show that I value you all. It’s the beginning of a new decade and that feels like an added pressure. It almost seems like there’s a need to prove that something wonderful will come out of this decade and this year will set the pace for that.

Well, because it truly is an important year— for various reasons that we all have, I think this post is important for all of us. Recently, I had to write down a thought on something we used to do in primary school then. A composition writing about yourself. We had the most interesting things to say about ourselves. I think I can remember some of the things I used to write then—- I am a girl. I am light in complexion. I am (age) years old. I live with my daddy and my mommy. My favorite color is blue. I like to read and write. My favorite food is rice and chicken. Something as simple as that broke down exactly who I was at the time. Well, have you tried doing that exercise lately? I tried it some days back and I realized there was more to me than just those things. But then, at the very core of my existence, I could easily slip into being that little girl that felt all of those things were enough to explain who she was, because that’s who she truly was.

Life might come with loads of hurdles that might make you seem different from what you wrote about yourself those years back, but now you should still be able to write your own story. I’ve come to learn something very interesting—- even when people try to describe you and you don’t like the image they are portraying, you have a right to choose which description you would like. Circumstances might try to fit you in a box and not let you see that there’s a broader image of who you are. Yes, you’ve been through some challenges, but they are challenges because you can overcome them, or you’ve overcome them. Do not let those challenges define you. Even though it’s been some years since I wrote that, I am still a girl (lady is just grown up for girl), I’m still light (even though summer in some places have made me a little dark than I used to be). Those are facts that have not changed, even despite the challenges that I’ve been through.

Situations and people around us are always quick to give us an image that is quite vivid, and if we allow them in, they can easily distort the images that we have of ourselves. The problem with holding on to those incomplete images is that there are huge potentials for that image to become beautiful if properly refined. Even if you already have that kind of image, there’s a way to get a clearer one. Now I’m not into photography, but I bet they have apps that can make things better. The Word is the app that you and God can utilize to create a clear picture for yourself. Whatever you are going through, someone has once gone through. Do not isolate yourself. Misery loves company—- but it seeks to isolate you from every other thing that’s not in line with it so you can be best friends. Seek for knowledge through books, search for scriptures concerning that situation, or have a conversation with someone who has your best interest at heart, and who also loves God. Lastly, you have to separate yourself from that situation. Hear this:

You are not a failure because you failed at something

You are not hopeless because you are stranded

You are not a mistake because your mother didn’t want you

You are not ending up alone because you’ve had some failed relationships

Get to know more about you through God’s eyes:

You are the apple of God’s eyes

You are chosen and loved by God

You are God’s temple…. so God dwells in you.

I have a challenge for you…. while you are working on the very many plans that you have for this year, do that interesting composition for me— Write a composition about yourself.

I really am rooting for you and God is rooting for you as well, as long as your plans aligh with His.

With exceeding love,

Mz_Ola