Gratitude for the One Who Put My Heart at Peace

Life is beautiful... especially when you're not dodging potholes like a taxi driver weaving through Gwarinpa on a Monday morning.

Some days, peace feels like the cool breeze that sweeps Abuja after an early morning rain. Other days, it feels like you’re simply trying to survive the hot afternoon sun without melting like suya forgotten by the roadside.

But that’s the essence of life, isn’t it?

A sweet mix of peace and small wahala to keep us grounded and growing.

Some days, the peace feels so strong you could walk barefoot on fresh grass and hug a tree. Other days, you wonder if the tree might just hug you back... or fall on you for sport.

That’s the hilarious balance of life a beautiful blend of peace, drama, and lessons, all working together to keep us awake and evolving.

Today, I am grateful for peace.

That deep, comforting peace that whispers, “You're okay,” even when your mind tries to stage a full-blown Nollywood production about imaginary problems.

I am grateful for waking up without a headache, and with no need to swallow any tablets. For real  if you’ve ever needed medicine just to make it through the day, you’ll understand why this is not a small thing o!

There are people fighting silent battles, clinging to drugs just to survive. Some are taking their last breath as we speak. And here I am  breathing freely, heart steady, mind mostly intact (depending on who you ask). What a privilege!

Another big highlight of my gratitude journey right now?

My sweet baby girl  Moori, Her Royal Highness.

Waking up beside her feels like waking up next to a soft, mischievous blessing. She jumps around, plays hide and seek like a champion (I'm telling you, this cat could go to the Olympics if they ever add "Hide and Seek" as a sport).

Her energy is contagious; she’s my living, purring reminder that joy often hides in simple things.

Just the other day, I tried cutting her claws. Oh boy, we fought o! It was a full WWE smackdown.

But guess what? Not even two minutes after our "battle," she came cuddling back to me, as if saying, "Mummy, no hard feelings."

If humans forgave and loved as quickly as cats, maybe world peace would be more than a dream.

I am grateful for this phase of my life  navigating a season without a stable source of income.

Yes, it sounds stressful (because it is), but it has built in me a fierce, unshakeable trust in God’s provision.

In a country where people say you need “connections,” bribes, or even body currency (may God save us) to get jobs, I’m living proof that grace works differently.

Someone once told me, "If you no get godfather, forget am."

I smiled and replied (in my mind): I have a God that doesn’t need a surname.

Am I exactly where I want to be yet? No.

But am I where I used to be? Absolutely not! And that's what gratitude is about  noticing the shifts, no matter how small.

Plus, I’m surrounded by kind and blessed souls who are sweetness personified.

They remind me that sometimes, your tribe is part of your testimony. They don't just love you  they water you, lift you, and help you stretch beyond your fears.

The Waiting Phase: Our Life's Exam Hall

You see, what we do during the waiting phase matters  it’s what determines if the end of our tunnel will have a dusty bulb or a full-blown disco light.

Waiting is hard. No lies. Sometimes it feels like watching paint dry while standing on one leg.

But here's the thing:

The waiting phase builds us with so much love, resilience, perseverance, and holy stubbornness (the good kind).

It teaches us patience  that fruit of the Spirit that nobody prays for but everybody needs.

If only we treated life the way we treated our school exams...

Remember back in the day?

We would prepare, plan, study, revise, and pray like our future depended on it (because it did).

Even when we felt like we had aced the exams, we still humbled ourselves before God, begging:

"Lord, please let the examiner see my work with eyes of mercy!"

Life is the same.

You do your part. You show up. You prepare your heart.

You serve, love, work hard, rest when needed, and then trust God to bless the seeds you have sown.

It’s not about rushing to the finish line.

It’s about becoming the kind of person who can actually carry the blessings waiting there.

Because what’s the point of a throne if you haven’t learned how to wear the crown without it falling over your eyes?

So Here’s My Heart Today

I am grateful for the peace that keeps me grounded when my mind wants to fly off on a panic trip.

I am grateful for breath, for love, for health, and for my funny, adorable Moori.

I am grateful for the "not yet" parts of my life because I know they are cooking something good.

And above all, I am grateful that I serve a God who doesn’t operate by human politics, backdoor favors, or bribes.

My story is still unfolding.

Yours is too.

Keep believing.

Keep building.

Keep your morals intact  even when the world acts like they’re old-fashioned.

Your waiting phase is not wasted.

It’s sacred ground.

Call to Action:

Take a moment today to list three things you’re grateful for  big or small.

Maybe it’s your pet, your health, a peaceful mind, a true friend, or simply the strength to keep showing up every day.

Write them down. Speak them out. Let your gratitude be louder than your fear.

And if this post resonated with you, share it with someone who might need a reminder that they’re not alone in the wait.

Peace, love, and cat cuddles.