ANOTHER YEAR IS DAWNING

 The sound of cocks crowing, the chirping birds in the night, the bells that keep ringing, and the children that can’t stop singing

The honking of cars, the packing of bags, the ecstasy of travels, and the melodies to the Creator all signal the close of a season

Just as a student entering year one in the university and four years seem like a long journey, all too soon graduation begins to show its glamorous face

Through the many struggles of getting what to eat, what to wear, how to pass, when to sleep, and when to wake up, finally the end comes

 

We started the year with many resolutions, dreams, aims, goals, and achievements which we hoped to attain or better at the end of the year

Some chose not to make resolutions and pursue any dreams because of past failures to achieve them.

Whichever category you fall into, one thing is for sure, you have made it thus far and it is time to reminisce on what has happened

 

We started the year with some people that we lost along the way. The cruel fate of death reminds us once and again of the humanity of man

Those we lost through sicknesses and diseases; the friendships we lost due to our nonchalance and carefree life; the enemies we hoped not to make but we couldn’t do anything about it

The moments of fear and anticipation gripped us all and we thought this was the end; how about the time you felt you couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to end your life

 

The heartbreak that you thought you will never recover from or the dwindling results you thought you could never salvage

The course you thought you could never pass or that trail you thought you could never pass the resit

How about the disappointments we faced in our classrooms and businesses as we pursued our dreams and goals?

The thought of knowing that you could never please your family or ever be good for a friend or acquaintance

The sacrifices that we made for friends and families that were not rewarded; the secret tears we shed but had no one to comfort us

The moments of true love and friendships we wanted to never end and the desperate times we wished it would all be over soon

The new friends we made in unimaginable places, the new love we found in the sweetest places, the new relationships we found in heavenly places

 

The friendships that were almost broken but someway somehow survived, the families that almost disbanded but love abounded much more

Through it all, our Creator has been faithful in watching over our souls and preserving us thus far

Not because of anything that we have done because many were the plans of the adversary but the Lord has delivered us from them all

Its been a difficult one for everyone but alas, if you are reading this, it means you also made it thus far “EBENEZER” Hitherto has the Lord brought us

 

As we close this chapter of our lives, I indulge you not to give up but to keep hope alive in your heart; don’t give up on wayward and stubborn friends and families, but pray for them

Don’t give up on love but pray to love more even in the midst of hatred and denial; don’t give up on your dreams but pray for more wisdom and guidance to fulfill them

Let’s learn from the mistakes we made in the past and pray for more grace not to repeat them

Let’s re-evaluate our relationship with our Creator and make sure we are in His good book; let us forgo any hatred and carefully nurse our wounds

Another year is dawning, I hope to see you on the other side full of life and hope