This is a quote from an Obama picture book I keep in our dining room that I now call the “War Room” because it is where I keep my sons’ school uniforms. I keep this book there as inspiration to be the mother Obama’s mom was who woke him up before school to have private time teaching him herself. My kind of mama! I look at my life as if I’m on a personal mission from God to be the best wife possible, to raise the best kids, and to bring humanity closer to God, all for His glory, but let me tell ya; THIS IS HARD.
I got up after 3 am remembering I needed to wash uniforms for the boys to wear today, to finish sharing my posts from yesterday, and now I’m sitting down to type this message to inspire you to do hard things, too, hopefully. The girls and I came to the US from Nigeria two years ago so that they would finish their high school education here in hopes of them qualifying for admissions to their dream universities in New York along with scholarship monies. It was a sacrifice hubby and I made for our daughters’ future, splitting our family in half, but let me tell ya, it’s been tough!
God didn’t promise us an easy life, but I love this verse:
“For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended.” – 1 Peter 2:19
This is where I want us all, keeping our focus on God and continually asking, ‘God, what would You have me to do here?’ I feel like I have to be Mike Tyson taking on a lot of blows in the head sometimes, but I say, ‘God, no problem, anything You ask me to do, I will do.’ I have to shake off many disappointments with my eyes on the prize and everything that God has planned out for our family (it’s not just about me anymore). Again, not easy, especially when the crazy lady wants to come out and make an appearance, but I TRY to follow God’s voice in my head. And that voice has led our lives on a stunning path, despite the disappointments.
“I want you to work on being wise,” were the words from my brother, Kevin, that I keep in mind. For me, that means looking to God on a moment-by-moment basis seeking to be the person He would have me to be. If He says, Nik, be the glue that keeps your family together. I do that. If He asks me to be my most loving, patient, going the extra mile self, I do that, too, because God gives us far beyond what we can ever ask or imagine when we stay on the high road with Him.
Life is all about perspective, baby! I now take all the negativity that comes as fuel to put even more goodness out in the world and most crucially to get even closer to God where I’m with Him 24/7. Today I’ll begin my 50 days of discipline again where I’ll be waking up earlier and working harder to be all I feel God is calling me to be in the world – His Rockstar wife, mother, and person! I so enjoyed having our daughters at work with us yesterday as I try to imbue this value of doing everything for God’s glory, bringing our best every day like my son Emmie taught me, knowing our reward is with God. Yes, we will have some hard things to do, but God will be our strength. Wink! Wink! Let’s make Papa God proud out there!
“The people who know their God will be strong and do great things.” – Daniel 11:32