Praise and glory be to God as I today attain the age of 70 in relatively good health.
I cannot but reflect, however on the transience and fragility of life as amply emphasised in Psalm 90 vs 10 –
“The years of our life are
three score and ten.
And if by reason of strength
they be four score years,
yet most of them are labour
and sorrow, for life is soon
cut off and we fly away.”
We had always planned a big celebration for my 70th birthday, but that changed when our Mama Yard left us last year April 29 to return to our maker just before her 61st birthday. Our plan for a grand 70th birthday was thus dealt a fatal blow.
To begin with, she would have been the producer, director and chief host. She would have taken charge of everything.
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It is poignantly surreal to me as I write that she has gone.
That was not the script we had written. In our script, she was supposed to survive me.
But God had a different script, a script that can’t be challenged.
A script that left me a widower at 68.
May her soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
We had always planned a big celebration for my 70th birthday, but that changed when our Mama Yard left us last year April 29 to return to our maker just before her 61st birthday. Our plan for a grand 70th birthday was thus dealt a fatal blow.
Our children Jide, Joko and Folake have sought to fill that void in my life as much as they can, just as I try to fill the vacuum as much as I can. We are left with no choice after all.
So, as of necessity my 70th birthday is muted.
Jide and Joko have been hosting me in Lagos. They could not leave their jobs in Lagos to be with me in Benin on this significant life milestone. They have been feting me.
They’ll take me out to dinner this evening as I begin my 71st year in life’s journey.
We are taught that in all things, we must give thanks.
Please join me in glorifying, praising and thanking God for his mercies and goodness He has afforded me this past 70 years since that bright Sunday afternoon in St Philomena hospital, Benin City on October 3, 1954. And also request the continuation of His benevolence to me
God bless you as you do so.
