A Birthday Reflection on Life, Healing, and God’s Faithfulness

Hello there!

I celebrated my birthday a few days ago. Birthdays are important reminders of how the Lord teaches us to number our days, so we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. As I continue into a new decade, the importance of time and the gift of having yet another day becomes more imperative to me. I find myself praising God for every little and big thing He brings to my mind, and even for the fresh perspective I have about this life. In this blog scriptural-souvenirs-from-my-twenties, I mentioned that I would be sharing some lessons from my twenties, but I was reluctant to do so or write about it. I thought maybe it wasn’t necessary. Also, the past year was spent trying to adjust to motherhood, learning, growing, and evolving as life brought its vicissitudes. I don’t know if I will eventually blog some key lessons life brought me in that decade, but until then, here are some musings of why I say I am a testament that God is good.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Proverbs 90:12 (KJV)

1. Few days to my tenth birthday, I almost died.

I remember vividly the cloth I wore and the local clinic my parents took us to whenever we were hit with another bout of malaria. The malarial parasite wreaks havoc, especially among the young and vulnerable population in Africa. Unrelated, I remember bringing my antimalarial medications with me to the United States just in case I had some residual in my blood and fell sick (it turns out the mosquitoes here are harmless). Back to my story, as usual, my mom took me for another round of injections to treat the malaria with typhoid fever complications on that day, and immediately after taking the dreaded injection, I went blank. It was hours later that I found myself on a bed with my sweet mom’s face keenly watching me. She told me I had passed out and was already giving up until God brought me back with some medical interventions. Until her passing, she never stopped sharing the testimony. I praise Jesus for life.

2. In my teenage years, I had a recurring abscess.

This may be TMI, but I remember the faithfulness of God in my life and His healing power; I can’t not share. I don’t want to call myself a bookworm, but I loved school (still do, just really getting tired now😅). It was JSS3, and I had a final paper in integrated science (which I loved and that evolved into my love for biology; now I am trying to get a PhD in microbiology—that is the extent of my love for the subject). I felt some pains around the anal region but didn’t tell Mom because I didn’t want hospital treatment to interfere with my exams (I was that passionate). So, I bottled it up until the final paper, then I got home and broke down to Mom. We found ourselves at UITH and had to do an emergency surgery to treat it. I thought that was it, but we were wrong. This ailment recurred for several years through my high school and college (I actually wrote a final exam in pain as I knelt down on a pillow because I could not sit) until grad school. Every year, my mom prayed and prayed and believed God for complete healing until God helped the American doctors figure it out and devise a way to treat it with a final surgery in October 2020 at West Virginia. I praise Jesus for healing and deliverance from a stubborn perianal abscess.

3. On my twentieth birthday, I asked God for a gift.

I prayed into my twenties in my small college dorm asking God for many things especially a gift to mark my twenties. I had no idea it was going to be in the form of a brother called Olaniyi who was so gentle in the choir where we both ministered in college that it took a long time for me to actually place a face on his name. A long story short, we started our courtship that year and now we get to do life together. We walked through some phases in life that shaped our twenties together, now we know God helped us find each other at the time to be able to walk those long paths together. I praise Jesus for a blessing of a friend for life.  

4. In my 24^th year, I started grad school

The privilege of being an international graduate student in the US was a fulfillment of prayers, prophecies, and an outcome of many sacrifices. This is a seed planted especially by my late mom and a vision she nurtured. It’s a vision I caught on to very early in my life because I came to the understanding of God’s plans for my life very early. I have only lived a very few years on earth, and I have faced an ample share of trials; many became fuel for me to keep going and keep trusting Jesus. My curiosity about life and love to contribute positively to the society pulled me to the field of science. I am the most unworthy to be here and for these opportunities presented to me, yet mercy and grace have brought me here. I praise Jesus for making something beautiful out of my life.

5. In my 28^th year I lost an angel in the shape of my mom

There is a lot to talk about and a lot not to say. My mother formed a foundation for my life. She understood her assignment in raising all four girls in the way of the Lord. First, she submitted us under the umbrella of Jesus to save our lives and destinies. Then she invested everything she could, poured all her love, and all she had to the best of her ability into each of us. I borrowed her courage, her resilience and her faith. Until the very end she trusted in Jesus and held unto her faith. The faith of my mother taught me a lot come rain come sunshine. If only I could be half the mother she was…I praise Jesus that she is in eternal rest and for the years we got to spend with her on this side.

6. Both old and new decade reflects God’s saving grace

I blog about this account with every sense of gratitude and worship to God. In fact I write with flowing tears as some memories flood my mind. I have always had a penchant for sentimental perspectives, so it is okay. There are many moments I thought this was the end of my life or purpose, yet God came through. There were times of lack and figuring things out, albeit clueless, yet God provided. There were times of doubt and hopelessness with closed doors, yet God showed up. There were times of disappointments and sadness of not knowing what comes next, yet God was on time.  I hope these words mix with faith in someone in the thick of things wondering how God is good. You will see that God is good.

Special note: Would you give your life to Jesus Christ? He is the way, the truth and the life. If yes, please pray the prayers below:

Lord Jesus, thank you for your death and resurrection for the salvation of my soul. Please forgive all my sins. I choose you today to follow and to obey. May your love and the holy spirit lead and guide my purpose for your glory. Thank you, my Lord and savior. Amen!

Grace and blessings,

Olushola