You Are Stronger Than The Pain!

It was the morning of 25th January 2013, a bright Friday morning. At about some few minutes to the hour of 8 o'clock, still lazy-ing in bed, my phone rang and a childhood friend was the caller, I was excited 'cos it's been quite a while we chatted, her calls brought smiles to my heart that soon faded. though I was sleepy, I still found my voice to let her know how happy I was hearing from her though my voice was still husky. She told me she had called to sympathize with me on what happened, I burst out laughing and sat on my bed. Nothing happened o, I replied. She said I saw what your brother posted on Facebook yesterday night. What did he post biko? I queried and the line went dead. I redialled the number two more times but she didn't pick up. I began to wonder what it might be that my brother had posted, instantly I became frantic, I called my friend again and she picked. I went on to tell her how I haven't been online for days and begged her to tell me what was posted, she said she was going to call me back and the line went dead again, ha! I started to sweat in my both palms and became nervous. Finally I got data, lo and behold on my brother's Facebook wall was this message "Just got a shocking newz.. That my beloved dad has just given up the ghost... Plzzz join me in prayers .....thanks for being my friends"
Ha! is this boy crazy? how could he joke with such a thing? many thoughts ran through my head, I remember calling my Dad's phone the previous day and my younger sister took the call and said he was at the farm behind the house supervising those clearing the bushes not knowing it was going to be his last but that my Mum was in the kitchen. I spoke with Mum who promised to inform him that I called, unlike him, he never called back. At about 8pm, I started calling the line again but no one picked then I concluded they have all retired for the night hoping that when he sees my call in the morning, he will return the call as his manner was but he never did till date. All I just wanted to tell him was the love of God for him, I wanted to remind him of God's faithfulness and find out how he was faring as usual. Immediately, I started dialling his phone, over and over again but no one picked. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, how could my brother post such on Facebook without informing any of his younger sibling. Finally my younger Sister picked the call and I asked her what is happening, she said it's Daddy o, he has died. Huh? my phone dropped. I cried, I screamed, my heart quacked, I was torn, I was broken to the point that my heart ached physically as though I was going to have a heart attack, I felt my world crumble before me, the tears flowed uncontrollably I became defenceless and empty. I became angry at God, how can he take my Dad without telling me? but I heard a question in my heart, "Do I need to take permission from you before I do anything with my creature? You are stronger than this pain."

Fast forward to this day, it is 3 years already. [Continue to rest in peace Chief C.C. Okereh, (omekagu 1 on Abuja)]

Truth be told, the pain never goes away. you only outgrow it. You may be out there hurting, having lost a loved one, the truth is, I can never understand or know how you feel, no one can understand your hurt or pain but believe me, You Are Stronger Than that Pain! Let the tears flow freely but keep saying to yourself, "I Am Stronger Than This Pain" because truly, you are the only one stronger than the pain, the sadness, the agony, the aching, the hurt, the brokenness, the loneliness or despair you feel right now.
You Are Stronger Than The Pain!

Action Point:
If you still have a Dad, show him some love today!

Lots of Love
Oma.

Being grateful is magical!

Life is a blessing. But it presents different strokes to different folks, no matter how we look at it,

Being grateful is magical!

*Gratitude connotes thanks and appreciation

*It is the quality of being thankful and showing it

*It is the appreciation and recognition of the quality, value, significance or magnitude of people and
things

*It is an act of kindness

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.

Being grateful and expressing it changes everything.

A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.

A wise man once said
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them".

Being grateful and not expressing it by words of mouth especially is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.

"Thank you" expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding, respect, regard and appreciation.

Cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude and live it.

Thankful people are the most happy, they sleep better, have strengthened immune system and no depression.

Be thankful to your spouse, be thankful to your lover, be thankful to your children, be thankful to your parents, be thankful to your Pastors and Imams, be thankful to your friends and most of all, let them know that you appreciate having them in your life.

A simple "Thank you" to that domestic servant, that taxi driver, that bike rider, that market woman, that ware seller, that Cleaner in your office, that Nanny, that Driver who chauffeur you and your family, that Secretary, that P.A., etc. It doesn't matter how much you pay them, a simple "Thank you" does a lot of magic.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just be grateful.

Being grateful is magical!

Action Point:
Let the gratitude challenge begin


Lots of Love
Oma.