One Year, Many Blessings, Countless Lessons

The year 2026 is drawing to a close, and as it stands, we're currently in the last quarter of the year. Looking back, I can't help but be grateful for how far I've come and the numerous blessings I've been privileged to get during the course of the year. Saying all these doesn't mean it was a smooth ride; to be honest, it wasn't. There were lots of challenges, so it may seem like a rollercoaster journey, but beyond all, I'm grateful for the gift of life, and I'm in particular hoping that the remainder of the year will bring more blessings and favors my way. So in the light of that, I'd like to share my reminiscing of the year this far with you, and without further ado, let's get to it.

One of the best things that happened to me this year, and I can call it one of the greatest blessings of my life, is welcoming my precious daughter to the world. Through the years as I've grown, I've helped nurture and cater for the children of those close to me, and I usually wonder what it feels like to have one of my own. The addition of my daughter Gladys to my family is one of the most super exciting things. She not only made me a father but also fulfilled one of my long-standing desires, and with her addition to the family, I've become an even better person than I used to be, and I look forward to watching her grow and excelling in all her endeavors.

Still close to the birth of my daughter is how I'm particularly grateful for the fact that I, alongside two of my siblings, welcomed three babies into our different individual families within the space of a week. That blessing and privilege is one I'm thankful to God for, because I know that not every delivery usually goes as planned, and some lose the baby, while some lose the mother in the process, but for my extended families and me, God made everything go smoothly and made our homes filled with happiness and laughter of our precious gems.

Despite how great this year went, I was told devastating news some months ago about the passing of my aunt, who has been like a month to me for the past 18 years. The message of her death was one that shocked me to the bone and made me sad because of how lovely a person she was and the impact she kept making in different aspects of my life till she drew the last breath, although I'm saddened by her passing, but I know she's in a better place now and we'll meet to pay no more in our father's house on the last day.

Beyond that, the year has been fine to me except for the economy issues that have led to a high cost of living and affected my daily living, and not forgetting how it's kind of annoying how I develop some form of illness during times of the month. Take for instance, currently I've been having ear issues for almost a month now; some time ago, it was a boil I was dealing with, and before then, it was my high blood pressure. But overall, despite everything, I'm grateful for the gift of life, and I'm looking forward to achieving something great before the year runs out. Hopefully everything will turn out well for my family and I.

All photos are mine, and enhanced with AI.