The God Factor “Once in royal, David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed,” the other children crooned,while Iheld the toybabyJesus in my arms and rocked Him from side to side. It was the annual Sunday School at the Asawase Presby, and I was playing the role of Mary, as usual. I have always seen the hand of God in my life. From when I was brought home to Ghana as young as seven weeks old, to today. I was really introduced to God by my grandmother, who started the Presbyterian Church in Asawase. When I moved to London, I faithfully attended the Salvation Army Church in Clapton, East London with my mum. I was a proud Junior soldier and learned to play the tenor horn, a brass instrument. Afterwards, I would see the hand of God in everything I did. Most often I would just say something and act out in faith, with not a shadow of doubt of being able to do it. I just trusted God. From when I declared that I would marry Harry, to when I promised to give him a third son, and even when I applied for a job my friends thought it was a hoax. All these had been out of my authority, and yet just by declaring them and acting out on it, they were fulfilled. In days of scarcity, it was this same God I relied on and He saw us through, providing us with huge sums of money to even pay off our children’s school fees. When Benny was born and had to undergo a hernia operation, it was to our God that we turned, and he did not disappoint us. By God’s grace, I can literally count one hand how many times they’ve been sick, they’ve been healthy, they’ve been fine. There is somuchmore, I cannot even begin to name them. We have brought our children up in the fear of the Lord and we believe they will pass this on to the next generation. Life Lessons Everything that I’ve done so far is just exactlywhere I need to be. I am very happy and content. Of course, I’d love to have a bit more money than I have now. I’d love for us to have been able to have a bit more holidays than we’ve had, but, we’re going to be great. Absolutely. I’m a great believer in learning from our experiences whatever theymay be and taking positive learnings. For instance, in May 2016, I went to my nephew’s wedding in the States, I went via London. My dad had just recovered from a coma and had come out of hospital. All the time I was going to America; I knew that was the last time I would see him alive but I didn’t do anything about it. I should have forced him to come home to Ghana. He died in February 2017. I didn’t want the same thing to happen with my mom. My mom didn’t want to come to Ghana, but I knew she was getting elderly and no longer independent. It had gotten to a point where carers were coming in and out of her home. Jerry was in London, but she was literally living alone, so, I did my best to support and softly insist until she finally changed her mind, albeit reluctantly. I often think of my grandmother who is 109 and still goingstrong. Shesayswill behereuntil 120yearsas she’s waiting formyboys togiveher great great grandchildren before she goes. Good for her. I really feel like life is a precious gift to be enjoyed. Earlier this year, I lost my eldest brother and that was a devastating and painful loss. It made me realise that life is transient, here today and gone tomorrow. That is why I am going to make it a point to enjoy my upcoming fiftieth birthday. How I will accomplish that, I don’t know, but it will be done. Overall, I really can say, hand on heart, I don’t have any regrets. Now that the boys are older and I’ve turned fifty, I’ve come into a place where I’m actually willing to take more risks now than I’ve done in the past, celebrate myself unapologetically and live a life of true abundance whilst helping as many people as possible to also achieve great things. Contentment and growth 31 The Birthday Journal
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