Part 2

Next thing I see is black tar... Then I realized I was lying on the ground! I mean, I was lying on the cold, hard, road and a crowd had gathered around me. I remember in particular, a lady with a headwrap telling me 'this is the hand of God, you know?' Just thank God; and another lady holding my right hand, kept squeezing it and talking to me, making sure I was responding/responsive. Then the lady with the headwrap squeezed my left hand and I felt a pain throughout my body. The thing is, I was lying on my left side, and could feel a horrible pain in my right foot. Also, my boot was missing from that foot, so I was freezing. I tried to turn and lay on my back, but both ladies told me not to. My left arm was aching so badly though, and I tried to point that out to them by nodding in that direction. As I looked at the hand, seeing the angle it was positioned in, I knew it was broken. I didn't know how, or if indeed it was still a part of my body, but I KNEW it was broken because I moved my elbow, and the hand just lay still. I felt some kind of friction, like something was moving back and forth in my uooer arm, but other than that, my left arm just lay still on the floor, in a funny right angle to my body.

Meanwhile, my poor sister was in tears, and frantically making calls home. Someone called for an ambulance, and a kind gentleman took off his jacket and covered my by now shivering body. I suddenly felt a trickle down my nose, and asked for some tissue, blew my nose and came away with a bloddied tissue. It was at this moment that it fnally dawned on me that I had been hit by a car! I've heard numerous stories of people losing their lives in car accidents, and it seemed so odd that I would become of 'those people'. I also realized I couldn't breathe properly. I felt as if a heavy weight had been placed on my chest and each time I inhaled, I felt a sharp pain in my chest area. I really thought I was going to die that night. I thought it was time for me to go home, leave this earth, end my sojourn here. I began to ask God for forgiveness of sins, and I thanked Him for sparing my sister's life. I also prayed that He would comfort, guide and protect the rest of my family in their time of mourning my demise. Suddenly, I was glad it was me, and just me that was affected. I was glad that my sister was left unscathed and my family would not bear a double loss. Most of all, I was glad because I was at peace with God. I had made my peace with Him months before, and if He had decided to call me home to Himself on that 21st day of October 2002, I would have gone gladly. By now the crowd had increased and I could not see my sister anymore. I could still hear her crying though, so I asked the lady holding my right hand to tell her to come closer, where I could see her, and she did. Shortly after that, the ambulance arrived.

By now, I was bored with lying still and started singing a little song that came into my head at that moment. It was a very simple song, which says: 'You are worthy to be praised, amen; Almighty God, you are worthy to be praised, amen... More of an interlude actually, but that is what came to my mind, and I sang it over and over again. I was lifted (with difficulty, as the ambilance crew could not tell whether or not I had a spinal cord injury/injuries, ribcage injuries, internal bleeding, etc, and in excruciating pain) off the cold floor into the ambulance. The police arrived and were asking questions, trying to get witness statements. The nurse placed a mask over my face so I could get some oxygen, and she kept telling me to inhale. I was still singing. She then brought out a pair of scissors, and I begged her not to ruin my trousers because they were only a week old, and she promised not to. She had to cut open my socks, as well as the arm of my jacket. I didn't mind the socks so much, but the jacket... I had had it since School days, and it was one of the more expensive, cutesy types. The police questioned my sister, who wouldn't leave my side and I for my part, could not stop singing. The nurse asked my sister what I was doing, and she told her I was singing a Church song. She told my sister not to worry, I would be alright, afterall I was singing my heart out. The nurse insturcted me to inhale again, this time counting one to ten, but backward. I did, and I felt so lightheaded. The nurse asked if I was a drinker, she said it would feel a bit like that, and I told her I don't drink, so she said I should not worry, just inhale and count. I did. I could tell there were people around me, and I could hear their voices, but they all seemed/sounded so far away. Then I remember the sound of the siren, and the ambulance taking odd. I don't remember much of the ride to the hospital, the next conscious memory I have, is of arriving at the hospital.

Part 1

On the 21st of October 2002, like every other Monday, I caught the bus to work at 9.00am, walked the distance from the bus stop to my workplace and did my bit for the day. Later on, at about 18.00hrs, we were to have an executive meeting. Monday evenings being committed to Maashufa classes (which I was taking with my sister) from 19.00hrs onwards, I sent my apologies. Somehow or the other, I found myself tied to my desk till 17.45hrs and actually welcomed a few of my colleagues who had arrived early for the executive meeting. At about 18.10hours, I finally managed to wrestle myself away from my desk, and left for my class. Needless to say I had missed my connecting train, so I hopped on the bus to the nearest tube station: big mistake! From that point onwards, I missed every single connection, and finally arrived at about 20.30hrs. By this time, I had been on the phone with my cousin for about half an hour. She recently got married, and we were talking about the state of singleness, in particular whether it was really possible to keep the marriage bed undefiled in this day and age of instant gratification and over-stimulation of all possible senses through the media. I was adamant that it was possible –being my lived experience- and she did not quite agree with me. The discussion was not concluded, as we had to cut our conversation short when her husband arrived home from work.

I then received a call from a friend in the film business. He needed someone to build some sort of miniature set for a blow-up sequence in his movie. Luckily, I know 2(!) architecture students and immediately called them both. Knowing I had quite a full day ahead of me on Tuesday, I decided to ‘sacrifice’ my lunch break to facilitate a meeting between my architects in waiting and my movie mogul to be. This was of course based on the premise that both students would be free at that time. I was more than fashionably late, and did not bother to join my class. Instead, I made a couple of calls, and the lunch date was fixed for the next day. I ran through my tasks for the next day in my head: there were the minutes of the last mentoring meeting which I had typed up fully, well, save for the last paragraph, as I was waiting for THAT inspiration on how to end it, and the usual meetings with clients. Not such a hectic day after all, just a regular day in the life of an upbeat young woman like me. I must tell you, I LOVED my job. I really did. I love being useful to others, I love seeing people succeed, and I sure love to help people solve whatever problems they might be facing. My reward at the end of each day, is the knowledge that someone had a problem LESS at the end of that day, because I was able to be there for them. There is nothing more fulfilling than that. I believe that THAT is what I was placed here for – to BRING JOY to everyone I encounter.

The classes ended, my sister came out, and together with a couple of friends and classmates going the same way, we made our way home. This must have been around 22:00hrs. The walk to the train station from our venue was a long one, and the wait for the train almost as long. The ride from the train station to the tube station was not as long, and we laughed and joked with friends all the way. As we came out of the tube station at Walthamstow Central holding hands – I don’t know why, but when walking with my sister, I always tend to link hands with her. It may be leftover from childhood days, when her arms and legs were considerably shorter than mine, and the only way to guarantee she keeps up, is to hold her close... Funny thing is that we are now about the same height, and her legs are definitely longer than mine, but I just can’t help reaching out and holding hands when walking side by side- we saw the bus that would take us right up to our doorstep. All I could think of was ‘RUN! For the bus’!!! In about half an hour, we would be home; I would have my hot beverage and sleep like a log till Tuesday morning. I was just so happy that the bus had arrived on time. My sister was probably thinking similar thoughts, and we both headed for the bus, still holding hands. The traffic light was indicating red, so we had to –impatiently, I must say- wait with other pedestrians for the lights to change. As soon as it did, in that same split second we attempted to dash off to the bus, my sister let go of my hand, I in turn held on tight to my backpack and gathered all my strength, to launch a race for that bus…

Next thing, I heard a crunching sound, though I was not quite sure we it had come from. Then I heard a screeching sound, like that of a car, and felt a slight headache coming on. I felt like I had just been spun around, and I felt a blunt object being shoved into my back area, I actually heard the contact between my back area and the object, like I had been shoved slightly, and could not quite make out why I was not on the bus yet. I then heard my sister scream my name, and the screeching sound slowly subsided, as if moving further away from me.

Talent and Success

They say your talent will open doors for you, it will make a way for you and take you places. A wise man once said that your talent is that one thing that you could do, without getting any form of reward for it, and be happy, and content, and glad you are alive and doing it. It made me think. It made me wonder what my talent was, end to go even further and wonder if my talent could 'make a way' for me.

The one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I know how to do, is connecting people. I have a flair for networking, I have a passion for bringing like minded individuals to the table and watching them share/exchange and tap into each others energies and grow. I love to watch people fulfil their potential and grow and mature and go out and touch other people's lives and help them grow and mature and reach their full potential. So, half of my work was done. I knew what my talent was, right? Now, how do I make it work FOR me? How do I make a living from introducing people to each other? It's not possible to make a career out of that, or IS IT? I wonder...

So I sit and wonder and ask myself, can one really be a professional 'middle man' or woman as the case may be. Could I seriously walk up to someone and introduce myself as a 'networking agent'??? Doesn't it sound ridiculous? Would it not come across as something made up, just so I have a tag in front of my name, something to call myself? Where on earth do people who want to meet other people go to find someone that could potentially introduce them? People who were serious about making professional contacts and not some tacky dating project or covert money grabbing venture? If someone were to come up to me, and ask me if they could help me meet the right business contact would I take them seriously? How would I feel about them? Would I trust them to know what they were talking about?

I've come to realize that I know people. I mean, I know human nature. I've had the priviledge of meeting and watching people from different walks of life and different parts of the world and taken away a thing or two from each and every encounter. I trust people. I trust that people are inherently good, and can find themselves in situations that make them do terrible things. I have also found out that trust works, in that it multiplies and reproduces itself. I trust people to be as good to me as I am to them, therefore I am good to people. In essence, I have met a lot of good people, a lot of dependable trustworthy people that I can call on at any time. Now, this is necessary because you just never know where you will find yourself one day and be in need of a particular talent or skill. So I try my best to maintain the relationships we build, and try as much as I can to nurture it, and watch it grow and make it more fruitful by putting something into it. How I do this? Now, that's MY secret to success.

I don't know what your talent is, or how you can make it work for you, but I guarantee you it is something worth exploring. I know I still am, so help me God... I do what I do because I love to do it, not because of any earthly reward anybody could offer. IF and WHEN I find a way to capitalize on it, I sure will. Until then, I am enjoying doing what I like to do and seeing the results i.e. people being happy to have met that someone that pushed their business to the next level, or impacted their life in a positive way, or became a friend for life or even a treasured family member. My joy is in knowing that the potential for that particular relationship was fully explored and mutually beneficial, so I will continue to do what I do, and I pray you find and explore your own talent rather than live to help sustain/fulfil someone else's dream. I wish you all that you wish for yourself in life!

It's a new day, in a new week in a new month! Amazing... Being my birth month, I am of course partial and biased in saying it's the best month of the year. So much has happened in he past few months, both at home and around the globe. So many people wished they could see the light of day today, but they did not. Goodbye Gary Coleman, Dennis Hopper and Rue McClanahan. The idea of death and dying is so humbling, it really makes you think, and in the end you realize how very fickle your own existence is. We all are here by the special grace of God, and for that I am eternally grateful. I thank God that I lived to witness today, I thank God for the blessing of life, family, friends, love and most of all hope. Hope that tomorrow will always be better and brighter than today. Hope that no matter how bad things may seem right now, they will get better. Hope that there is a light at the end of each of life's tunnels, and hope that my life will be significant. Yes, a significant and meaningful life, so I can look back at the end of my days and say, I HAVE LIVED. I lived the life God intended for me, and I lived it to the utmost. Enjoy your week!

longest time

Has it really been three months since I last posted? WOW. How time flies... Ok, a new commitment now, to post weekly! yaaaaaaaaaay

Relationship 101

What is it about relationships that makes people do silly things? If you have to break your neck to get into a relationship, surely you will break your neck to stay in one. If you have to strive so hard to 'get' that person, surely the whole lifespan of your relationship will be in strife..? If you think your life depends solely on the success of your relationship, then it will. If after you have struggled, and fought, and tried too hard and bent over backwards and ended up in the relationship you thought you wanted, don't be too surprised it's full of hurt and pain and not one full day of happiness to write home about. A word for the ladies: it's NOT complicated, and it's not meant to be difficult, and it's not meant to be a struggle. You are not supposed to 'go after' a man, he is supposed to woo you, win you over, convince you. Let him do the hard work, let a man be a man. Don't do his job for him and then turn around and expect him to be a complete gentleman. If he hasn't asked for your hand in marriage (preferably with your consent, from your parents), put a ring on your finger and walk you down the aisle, he is NOT your husband. If you happen to be sharing your bed with him at this point, he is not even your man, you are nothing but his bedwarmer, a bedmate, private laundromat, personal chef and in my opinion, doormat. Welcome to your reality! Okay, so I am ranting... It's just that I've heard many a sob story in the past few weeks and it beats me to admit that the foolishness lies squarely at the ladies' doorsteps. Yes, I said it. They were not wise with their choices, and are paying dearly for it. With permission, I will disect the relationship(s) in detail in the next couple of days, so watch this space...

The kindness of strangers.

Sometimes in life, it's not the big gestures or the expensive gifts that touch your heart, it's the simple things. A smile from a random stranger on the bus could brighten up the darkest of days, and a 'thank you' or a 'please' when you least expect it, could really make you feel like a million bucks! I was on a trip recently, and the experience I had on the 7 hour flight was just too touching not to share.

Travelling with a young child can be challenging, no matter how pleasant or easygoing your little one is. Let me give you a brief description of what we looked like on the way to the airplane. I was toting my handbag, a diaper bag, and documents in one hand, baby and jacket and scarf in the other. Yes, I must have looked a sorry sight. Good thing is, the baby is a smiler and was attracting more than enough positive attention and we got help stashing our luggage in the overhead cabin. We were even offered more convenient seats in a different row, but that's a story for another day. Today, I want to focus on a lovely angel God sent our way, sat in the next row on the same aisle as us. As soon as we were settled into our new seats, I noticed she was smiling at us and smiled back. The plane started taxiing, then stopped due to some delay or the other and we were at a standstll for over 15minutes. Being that noone was allowed to get up because the 'fasten seatbelt' signs were on, she mouthed 'if you need any help at all, feel fre to ask' and I nodded and mouthed a 'thanks ever so much' back. At about the 12th minute, my otherwise agreeable baby exploded a number 2 in her diaper and needed changing, STAT. What to do? I started playing all the distractive games I could think of. None worked and the poor little one was getting more and more fussy and definitely agitated. The plane eventually took off, and I was looking round for a steward/stewardess or someone to mind the little one in the bassinet while I returned to our former seats to retrieve all our bags and jackets. None in sight. next thing I know, the lady in the next row was bending over us, and said 'honey, I am very happy to help if you need me. I can see you both are travelling alone, just ask me when you need help.' All I could say was THANK YOU! Then I explained the situation, and she gladly took the baby while I went off to get the bags. Throughtout the flight, she was an absolute doll. She would come over and just pick up the little one and walk across to her own seat and play all kinds of games, read to and generally entertain the little one. I was more than grateful!!!

When dinner was served, I just picked at it while I entertained the bay, even though i was starving. I noticed the lady finished her dinner and got up wit her tray, then walked towards the back of the aircraft. At the back of my mind, I was thinking 'typical of the elderly to be more than polite and well mannered' and didn't think much else of it. On return, she came over and said 'come on babycakes, let Mommy have her dinner so she can be strong enough for you' and took the baby across to her seat again. I was amazed, and grateful and ate as quickly as I could, and went back to claim my precious one. We played and played and then the lady came up to me to inform me she was about to go to sleep for a few hours. She asked if I would love to have a bathroom break before she nods off, and I must say even though I didn't feel like I needed the bathroom, I went anyway since I wasn't sure when next I would get the opportunity to do so. She sat with the little one till I came back, then went back to her seat and slept. We pretty much played till just beofre the flight landed and then both dozed briefly, but it was very relaxing. I have never travelled with a baby before, talkless of taking a long haul flight with one, and with each step we took closer to the plane, I could feel some anxiety rising in me but i just turned it over to God and trusted he would take control, and He did! He sent someone to be there for and support me and I don't think it would have been any different had I had a companion on this flight.

This little gesture of help from that dear lady made such a big difference to my experience on this journey, and to my life in general. it may seem like nothing, and to her I am sure it was, but to me it made all the difference. I could have had a totally different experience and be completely worn out on arrival, but I thank God for little mercies. A random act of kindness by a total stranger sure made my day that much more enjoyable. Remember, it's the little things that matter!

Love is a choice

Love, or should I say 'loving someone' is a choice. Out of all the many suitors you had, you CHOSE to be with the person you are with now. The common saying that 'love is blind' does not ring true at all in my books. Love is something you actively, consciously DO. You choose to love somebody, and you have to keep making that choice daily in order sustain the relationship. I believe in relationships, and I believe in marriage. When a couple first get together, there are simple things that attract and keep them together. Each person puts their best foot forward in order to impress the other, and in the hope of making sure the other person chooses them over all the other possible partners they could possibly have. Once that choice has been made and they agree to BE in a relationship, they relax. They let down their guard and begin to reveal their inner self. The more they get to know each other, the more they realize how similar they are in certain areas, and how different they are in others. What may have seemed 'cute' in the initial stage quickly becomes drab and overdone as the relationship progresses even further. By the time they are married, the jokes that were politely laughed at, hobbies that interest was feigned in, all become a thing of the past. It's like once you 'get your man/woman' you can stop working so hard at pleasing them and making them choose you. I put it to you that this is actually just the very beginning. 'Getting that person' is just the foundation, 'keeping them' constitutes the building blocks of the marriage/relationship. We choose to do things that make the other person happy, which in turn makes us happy. We choose to make that person happy, we choose to trust them and we choose to believe they have our best interests at heart. Love is a choice, the day we stop making the choice to 'be in love' the relationship begins to die and eventually withers into betrayal, infidelity and eventually separation. I for one, I'm choosing to be happy, I'm choosing to love regardless...

One of those days

Today is one of those days... You know that the world is a bog place, and you inhabit the smallest, almost insignificant space in it, and it makes you wonder what your purpose is..? You wonder how relevant you are, and what (if any) difference you make. Where it all begins, where it all ends and what you've got to do with it. You can be so many different people and you ended up being the unique person that you are right here and now, and you wonder how come? As I sit here and ponder, I so want to write something profound and earth shatteringly relevant and moving, but nothing comes to mind. So, today is just one of those days dedicated to BEing, rather that DOing. I am basking in the sense of being...

The case of the missing president

For the past two months, I've been following this debate from the sidelines: Where is President Yar' Adua? Not knowing much about Nigerian politics also meant I was not too involved with the whole process. This morning however, I had the chance to view an interview at the UN headquarters in New York, during a press conference convened by the current Foreign Minister, Mr Ojo Maduekwe and it was an eye opener! A journalist for Sahara Reporter asked the Foreign Minister a question, and instead of answering the question, he went on a tirade. He called the man foolish, he called him miserable, told him to come to Nigeria and see what he will do to him, and eventually said 'I'm not answering your question, it does not deserve an answer' A non Nigerian journalist rephrased the question, and Mr Minister proceeded to answer in a manner not foreign to public officials: he waffled and babbled and used so many 'big words' and etraordinarily long sentences, he lost me after 30seconds. I still can't make head or tail of his answer. This incident reminded me of something that happened not too long ago. After it became all to embarassing for all, that the President had been gone for over a month with not even a hint of a message for the Nigerian people, a phone call was made to the BBC claiming he was alive and recuperating. Now, why could that call not have been placed to the Nigerian media, and why was it a phone call as opposed to a video call, or a press conference? How can anyone be sure it was in fact the President on the other end of that line.

In the absence of the president, the Foreign Minister is gallivanting around the world 'representing' the people, and cannot in clear words say WHERE he got his mandate from? Under what authority he is spending public money accruing airmiles, and responding to questioning at a press conference he called by spewing bile at Nigerian reporters? What exactly is going on? Where IS the president anyway? It just makes me sad that the president had nothing to say to his own people, or homegrown media, but felt the need to speak to the BBC. It also makes me sad that the Foreign minister insulted a Nigerian journalist when he asked him a legitimate question, but when the same question was rephrased and put in a condescending manner by a foreign journalist who went as far as asking him if he could 'read the president's ming' being that he had been absent for 6o days, or how else could he have gotten his mandate, he was more than happy to answer. To think we recently celebrated 49 years of independence. I beg to differ that we are truly independent, as many of our people, and most especially those in public service are still in mental slavery and will dance to any and every tune played by the western world. It is the same reason why we prefer Uncle Ben's rice to Ofada, the reason why we prefer Big Treat to Mama Put. We don't trust our own people or products, our markets are flooded with cheap plastic toys made in China, our streets are filled with Okadas imported from India and our TVs are tuned to BBC World or CNN. We have no idea what is happening down the road from us, but we know how many votes Obama got in the election. Funny, isn't it?

In the midst of all the current commotion, where is the President? Does he not owe the nation at the very least an apology for being MIA for 2 months? What is going on with him and why is the nation not being told the truth? i wonder...

The pastor's ass

Here's a great joke I came across today:

The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won. The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and it won again.

The local paper read:

> PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline read:

> BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey. The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:

> NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read:

> NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read:

> NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.

The bishop was buried the next day.


The moral of the story is . . . being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery; even shorten your life. So, be yourself and enjoy life. Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier and live longer...

Have a worry free day!

Looking forward...

So many times I try to start writing, and one thing or the other comes up and I find myself unable to complete one sentence, talkless of one paragraph. Looking back over the past 2 years, I cannot believe just how far I have come, how good God has been to me, and just how faithful He has been with ALL His promises. I don't know about you, as for me (and my house) we will praise and give thanks to the Lord who makes all things, and makes them beautiful in His own time. Time and again, I have been told to share my testimonies. I didn't take it seriously, because I always felt 'who am I in the greater scheme of things, why should my story be told as opposed to someone else's'? There was also an element of self consciousness, as I felt this would expose my life to the public. As if total strangers would not only be aware of my private dealings, but be able to share in my personal space. Having thought it through in 2009, I've decided that 2010 will be the year of speaking out. The year of proclaiming the goodness of my Lord in this land of the living. I am still unsure where to start, but I know that I will definitely share, I will testify and I will glorify the One who keeps doing things for me that no human being could ever be capable of doing. Do join me for this ride, and share your testimonies along the way as well, in order to encourage someone out there, or just to enrich the experience on this forum. I am excited about 2010, it is the year of completion. All the various good works that God has started in our lives, will be brought to a fruitful end this year, by His grace.

Prayer works!

It seems this month is bound to be filled with testimonies... God has just been too awesome for me to keep His goodness to myself!

We found out just after Christmas that there will be changes in my husband's workplace due to a budget cut. We've stood on God's Word, and believed Him for favour regardless. We just took the matter to Him, and asked Him to intervene and do what only He can do. Again in the new year, there were meetings scheduled to discuss how the organization will move forward, and it was obvious some members of staff will be relieved of their duties. So far, although no decisions have been made. Not conclusively, anyway. He has continued to receive calls to show up at work and do his part, and for this we are grateful. We have a roof over our heads, we have food on our table, and we have each other to fall on for support. We have also been blessed with unbelievably good friends who have made us realize the true value of friendship and loyalty. He is an awesome God! He has just been too good to us.

What has He done for you lately? What have YOU done for Him lately???

Prayer CHANGES things..!

I woke up this morning feeling the urge to pray. I wasn't sure what about, but I definitely knew WHY. See, this past year has been very tumultuous for me. So many highs that were really high, and lows that were very low. Through it all, God has been faithful. He has been consistent. Unlike me. Just yesterday, a friend asked on her blog, what our new year's resolutions are. I used to say NONE, because I know I will break them. Though I did not write a response on that forum, I knew in my heart of hearts, what my new year's resolution is. It is very simple, yet hard to do: to get closer to the heart of God. Easy, right? No, not always. You wake up one morning and start your day without praying, you keep meaning to finish a particular chore or task before going to your quiet place, in your quiet time, to meditate on His Word and say your prayers. During the course of the day, that time just never emerges and before you know it, you are so exhausted you've fallen asleep on the couch, fully clothed. You wake up the next day to repeat the same routine, and before you know it, a whole week went by without you even opening your Bible once! Imagine that? A man of God once said anything you do repeatedly for at least two weeks IS a habit. Imagine having my kind of days for a whole month? Is that a bad habit or what? After two months, I had to admit to myself that I had forgotten how to pray and seriously work on changing my ways. then life happened. One low season led to a lower season and I just couldn't remember where I had left God in my situation. In my despair, I gave up, I thought I was 'letting go, and letting God' but truth is, I gave up and started observing my situation(s), waiting to see what and how God would do it next. He just never gave up on me, He consistently proved Himself faithful. I consistently proved myself unworthy.

So, this morning when I woke up, I had been deliberating in my spirit that this year will be different. I will not only pray and study the Word for myself, we will do so as a family from now on. Consciously, consistently and committedly. Instead of just praying for one another, we will be praying with each other. I got up, picked up my Bible and prayer book and returned to my bed. I read out loud to my sleeping child who woke up at intervals to acknowledge my presence with the brightest smiles a little, angelic face could muster. I felt embraced in His presence, and I knew the Holy Spirit came down into that room and joined our meditation session. After reading the Word, I spoke the Word into the life of my child, myself, my husband, and our family unit. I felt the need to thank God for His grace and protection and did that for most of the prayer session, finishing off with the song 'You Are The Living Word'. Then, I started my day...

Just as I was feeding my child, the phone rang and it was my husband on the other end. He told me he was in a cornfield. Naturally, I thought he was joking. Curiousity got the better of me though, and I asked him what happened. He repeated that he had driven the car off the road, into a cornfield in a neighbouring town. I half thought he was pulling my legs, and asked for further information. I have to say that it has been snowing all day yesterday and today, and the snow is especially heavy in that town. He was on his way back home and driving along a road lined with trees on his side, but with a vast cornfield on the opposite side of the road. The snow conditions meant poor visibility and slippery roads, and as careful as he was driving, the car skidded, spun around a couple of times before finally coming to a halt ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, in the cornfield!!! All I could say at that point was: PRAYER WORKS! We both thanked God for His many blessings, and the fact that we did not start the new year with a bereavement or any other cause for grief and hung up. Needless to say, I am still reeling from the amazing shock of it all. I am stunned beyond belief. I know that I know, that my redeemer lives and is fighting my corner. If it had not been for the Lord on OUR side, where would we be? The same God that sent His spirit to watch over my child and myself while we were alone at home, sent His spirit to save my husband from harm. What more proof can a person ask for of His amazing grace and constancy and consistency? Now it's my turn to be constant in His presence and consistent with His Word. Wishing you all a fabulous 2010 with amazing testimonies...