Dear Hope,
As a little girl, Mama gave me lectures and sermons about you. She taught me about how important you are in everyone’s life. She said you are the one people hold on to for survival a lot of times. She also added that you had two siblings called Faith and Love, she said Love was the eldest, but I needed all three of you to survive, I remembered that sermon, and it became my mantra.
Growth happened, and the little girl became a teenager, life came at me, and I was so scared, I was scared to trust you because humans failed me and I felt you would too, but you did fail me, I held on for so long, but nothing happened, they said it was going to be better, but it wasn’t. Life dealt with me, and you didn’t save me, so I let go of you and your siblings.
Throwing you away became my greatest regret, the minute I kicked you out your rival took charge of my life, I can’t remember asking him to, but he did, and it almost ruined me. Depression took over, all I thought of was death, and I didn’t even know what to do so I resolved to tears and pains, and I wished I didn’t run from you, nobody could save me.
Fear crippled my life, Uncle Faith’s rival, and life wasn’t just worth living anymore. Still, in the middle of all of these, your brother Love found me. He looked for me, did all he could to rescue me from hurting myself. He came in a different package, I was so stubborn, yet he was patient, he was so persistent yet gentle, and because depression was gradually killing me, I succumbed to love, and my life received a revival.
Hope, I’m sorry I kicked you out, but I need you, I know Love will never leave me, but I have to keep working on my relationship with you and Faith, but it’s incredible to see that once I can work on my relationship with Love, you and Faith will be so natural. How I love your family.
I know it’s not going to be easy, even as a grown-up lady I still get scared about tomorrow, I sometimes worry about getting things right, I still get nervous I will mess things up and frustrate Love. Yet, Love said there is nothing I can do to push him away. I cried when he said that, so does that mean I have you and Faith for the rest of my life? That is such a great relief.
Life is always going to push me, challenges will come my way, friends will disappoint me, I will fight with my man, my parents, and siblings will get on my nerves, but I will choose you and your siblings over and over again, I will walk in Love, embrace you and keep Faith.
Hope, if there is one lesson the year 2020 taught me is that I need you to survive, you were my succour throughout the year.
I will remember Mama’s lecture because I can’t live life without you. I can’t run my marriage without you because there will always be challenges there, I can’t run my job without you because my boss will still want more from me, I can’t run my relationship with my friends without you because there will be issues, but I hold on to you.
With you and your siblings, life is worth living, and we can go to bed knowing that today may be challenging, but tomorrow is certainly going to better.
Thank you for being a constant support and strength!
I love you so much, please give my warm regards to Faith and Love, tell them they mean a lot to me, and one of these days I will write a note to them too.
Your buddy,
Onome
CONCLUSION
The year 2020 tested me on so many levels, there were days I cried like a baby, and there were days filled with laughter, but each season taught me growth, perseverance, and God’s Love. I don’t know what this year brought for you but look at you, God kept you, and you survived!
2021 will bring marvellous testimonies.
Thank you for your Love and support!
I love you so much.