Although I never met you in person, your name was well known to me just like it was to so many people. Yet quite a lot of us did not pay attention to the exact reason your name was out there, may be it’s because we never had a one-on-one relationship with you. Now I wish I knew you ‘for real’ while you lived.
How shallow was my knowledge of you, I only knew you as a successful business woman, an ex-beauty queen and a woman who was in the middle of a battle of religious doctrines that sprung up from her marital destiny.
I now understand why your name was known to myself and so many others, even though we did not take the time to know you for who you truly were.
A blessing to her generation, a mother to many, a Christian warrior, a pillar of support to so many and an epitome of beauty, just to mention but a few.
Ibidunni your story now reminds me so much of myself. Your pain, passion for planning, relentless love for others and selfless living reminds me so much of who I am. I weep not because you are gone but because I never got the chance to look you in the eyes and say to you, “Ibidunni you are one of the very few that understands my pain because you’ve had to bear much more than I have, yet you smile through it all and now I’m encouraged to hold on and be strong, knowing that God is still God regardless of what we have or do not have.”
I am pained because I never understood so well that there was a need to pray for you and every other person who share the same struggle as myself.”
I would have loved to meet you if I knew your story earlier, may be now I would have had beautiful memories of the times spent with you. These are mere wishes because it’s all in the past now. How amazing it is to know that your exit would bring about a rising on the inside of me, a new vision and hope.
Ibidunni your smile obviously brightened up every space you occupied and that is one thing I can hold on to considering I never met you in person. You were indeed an angel, pure hearted and truly an inspiration to those who met you in person. My description of you continues with me revealing what I learnt from your story. You were courageous, strong, graced, enduring, loving, full of faith, joy and hope, selfless, just to mention but a few.
Not minding all that anyone has to say about you, I know it’s all history now. Your exit has thought me more than ever before to look beyond my own needs and look out for others instead, knowing that a lot of people need what I have and I cannot be consumed with my own needs so much that I neglect that of others.
Because of you, I choose to be that woman who will be busy while I am waiting. Not sulking, murmuring or complaining because I now know better that no amount of energy put into all these produces any good result. As I wait I will put my energy into what is valuable, impactful and worth living for.
Thank you for leaving behind a very beautiful story. A story so inspiring the world can now tell until everything fades away.
Rest on Ibidunni Olajumoke Ituah Ighodalo.
Author Profile
- Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast
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