January is the first month of the year and it also happens to be my birthday month. It comes as a double blessing for me as I share the celebrations with my beloved mother. Mum’s birthday being on the 3rd and mine settling on the 21st. I like to spend the month doing a lot of reflecting and jotting down goals for the year that would have started. Although I started 2020 on a high note with so many dreams and aspirations, it didn’t end on a good note as most of the goals were not fulfilled as most of it was spent under lockdown.
I remember wishing my best friend a happy festive season and she was shook by my wish as she abruptly said, “We are in a pandemic!!! There are no festive seasons in a pandemic!!!” As much as I want to agree with what she said I still find myself hopeful and so full of gratitude. God has proved Himself to be Jehovah-Jireh (God the provider). I can still say that though 2020 was what I termed a “terrible year”, I never lacked food on my table, had a roof over my head and spent a lot of time with family.
As I take time to reflect and though we are still in the middle of a deadly pandemic, I am beyond grateful that I spent the whole of 2020 with my family at home. I bonded more with my parents and we were generally happy as we celebrated life “so many surprise birthday dinners with home cooked food”. One of these days, I will blog about my father; a man of few words and one that has never ever channelled his anger towards me. I am really perplexed and always wondering how he manages his anger and tolerates a human being like myself.
I am extremely grateful to God for the gift of my mother. It is of no coincidence that we were born in the same month. She has been there for me through the good and bad times. She has been a pillar of strength, my biggest fan, my motivator, my epitome of love and my beautiful friend. She is the mortal that understands me the most, prays for me the most and allows me to be who I am. She has been living a miracle life for twelve years and there is no day that passes by that I do not thank God. This year she turned 57 and I look forward to more of her grey hair.
In 2020, I started writing. I had always known that God deposited in me the gift to write and speak but I had neglected the gifts somehow. I dreamt ministering to a huge crowd and I was ministering “Jesus.” I won’t ever stop writing as I believe that one day the blogs will turn into books and that will be a legacy left forever. In 2021 I will be writing a lot of letters, addressed to different individuals and with strong messages that are inspired by the Holy Spirit.
In the year 2020, I lost a lot of friends, but also gained new friends. I may have lost out on a number of opportunities and may not have met 90% of my goals but I am grateful that my mind was renewed, my heart was moulded, I faced some of my biggest fears and I still pray that God conforms my will to His.
Though January has been a tough month for many us, with my friends and colleagues losing their parents and loved ones, I thought to write and bring to you a message of hope. I have heard from people going through divorces, people who have lost their jobs, people who are grieving and those who are struggling with illness. One thing that almost all of them have in common is that they’re grasping for something to give them hope. Deuteronomy 31:6 reads “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” This is just the beginning of the year and I want you to hold on to Jeremiah 29:11 which reads, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The year has just begun, consider the rest of it blessed. Reflect on the past, thank God for the gift of life, love and salvation. Hope for a better tomorrow and partake of the word of God on a daily basis. I love you all and may the Lord remember you at your point of need.
Emma's Blog 