For my benefit and yours…personal thoughts

June 22, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

The past week has been a tough struggle to get to my inner place of happiness.

I struggled to isolate my thoughts as I would normally do in order to reach my state of sanctuary because I was troubled by World events.

I may not be able to isolate myself from the goings on because I also have an interest in life around me after all, no man is an Island, but for self-preservation, one has to separate themselves from time to time so as not to get lost in the deluge of happenings that cascades all over us.

My husband always says that I am too sensitive and possibly naive to an extent that things still manage to shock me.

I would have thought that having personally been through several valleys and shadows of death in my life, that I would have come up toughened, but I realise that the deepness of my scars actually makes me more vulnerable, more sensitive to others, more empathetic and possibly more naive at my wonder at life.

Our happiness should never be hinged on anything temporal because our truest form of peace comes from within.

At moments like this when I search inside me or through the Bible for words of courage, love and understanding, I am surprised how old knowledge takes on new meaning.

“We are told that in everything, we should give thanks to God.” for example 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:20

It’s a hard sell to give thanks when it’s easier to be grumpy.
It’s a hard sell to a grieving soul.
It’s a hard sell to someone fighting for their lives.
It’s a hard sell for so many reasons….

…but as I continued to reflect on this in my mind, the Truth of giving thanks and being grateful expanded.

We give thanks not because we feel obliged to do so and not because of what we may have, but because it actually uplifts our minds.

We give thanks not because our lives are great, but because it could be worse and it expands the little we have to more.

Our thankful heart is less grumpy and experiences better health in that state.

Our state of gratitude inadvertently acts as a pep up for our spirit as it insulates our mind with happy hormones and refreshes it.

Truly, the struggle is real in the battlefield of the mind and one must not discount it, but it could be worse when we throw our sense of gratitude to the winds.

Yes, we must continue to advocate for peace, love and understanding. We may continue to remain baffled at the unfolding of events around us and wonder how selfishness has gained such toe-hold that it has become a blinding driver that the conscience of society dies one more inch each day.

However, in all these nerve-wracking things going on, we must never forget to uplift ourselves with thanks. We must never forget our sense of inner self-preservation for our true strength does not lie with the guns since we did not come to Earth bearing pistols in our hands.

A heart mired in ingratitude is indeed a bitter place to be. No matter how little, find something positive to be thankful for. Let it all end in praise.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

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“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Gratitude

My full plate…

June 15, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

Crowded, Nest, Egg, Full, Overflowing, Overcrowded

For several weeks, I’ve felt listless and dissatisfied and recent incidents in the World emphasizes the sense of futility that I feel about life. My morale justs dips and I practically have to hang on with tenacious tentacles to all the positive mantras and pick-me-ups that I can think of.

My plate is heaped full of things to do and sometimes, taking a mere glimpse at them makes me want to go and lie down and sleep and hopefully, they will get themselves sorted out without much of my help and mental exertion.

I woke up this morning with a message tucked into my head that kept telling me to be appreciative of the privilege to be alive and the opportunity of having interesting things to tackle.

The message kept reverberating in my head that the gift of each day which is given, should never be taken for granted irrespective of our struggles because the death knell is a final and last call on this side of the divide.

As long as there’s life, hope lies within and today I’m grateful for my full plate of busy-ness and the opportunity to feel the Sun’s shine on my face.

I hope that are you grateful or thankful for something today. We have a lot of privileges surrounding us.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Out of the silent breath

Gratitude · Personal

The state of gratefulness…

June 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha5 Comments

With the ups and downs of life, sometimes, it’s difficult for your minds to clinch into a constant state of grace because most times our reflections are on auto drive on picking out the things that may not be going as we wish as against the other blessings that are pebble stones on our path and act as GPS to help us navigate back when we stray down the road of doubt and ingratitude.

Making a conscious decision to express gratefulness has made me more conscious and appreciative of the little things that I ordinarily took as a given and with this comes a greater sense of contentment and peace.

I’m totally grateful for the kindness received from those around me. To Tasha of Hit below the belt hard, I appreciate the slice of carrot cake you bought for me 😉

I’m grateful for the fact that though sometimes I fall short in my responsibilities as a parent and wife, my husband has been doing his best to remain my supportive backbone.

I don’t take these things for granted and I always encourage anyone to practice the state of gratitude not so much for the present state that you are in, but for the journey of the wonderful sense of contentment that it builds in you.

There’s always something to be grateful for and you will probably find so many when you look.

Love and light.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Out of the silent breath

Gratitude · Life

Just hang in there…personal

June 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha24 Comments

Honestly, I’m thankful that it’s almost weekend over here and the school exams will be done with tomorrow.

I notice that not only is my mental acuity flagging from all the drilling revisions with the children, coupled with other responsibilities, I also feel a bit tense, so the weekend will be a most welcome pleasure.

The brilliant aspect is that all the grilling revisions are paying off. My first son’s exam grades came in looking shiny, so such news energized me a bit and I’m totally grateful because his subjects gave me more concern than those of his siblings.

The truth is that I secretly nursed an occasional thought of anxiety at his results at the back of my mind but I knew that since fear or worry wouldn’t solve any problems, the best thing to do is to work hard and commit the rest into the hands of God and I am not disappointed 🙂

Gratitude has been teaching me a lot. It has changed my perspective and has enriched my life far more than I can say.

There’s always something to be thankful for. I hope you find some reason to be.

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Gratitude

The speed of time…

May 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

We draw to the close of May so fast that I’m left gasping to catch my breath.

Yesterday was just December, and now we are done with the 1st quarter of the year, with some water gone under the bridge and quite some notable celebrities have crossed over to the other side.

Today, my thoughts have been on a reminiscent drift. It’s three years today that my dad passed on and I find myself replaying a lot of scenes of the past in my mind. Not in a bad way but in a bitter-sweet way.

I find myself filled with peace. Peace for having known him as my father.

I’ve not achieved all that I set out for myself for this quarter. I’ve been slow, but I’m thankful for the much that I’ve done.

I’m grateful for the Grace and Favour received each day, to wake and see the rising Sun and pursue my dreams. To drink my warm cup of beverage and hope for tomorrow. I’m grateful.

There’s always something to be grateful for. You canYou can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

P.S. You are invited to our monthly blog party this weekend. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

When his face is sought with such fervent endeavour

huge burdens become less of a pressure

for he adorns us with unquantified favour

which takes us up to a higher measure.

Gratitude · Hope

Keeping it all together…

May 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Sometimes, just when I feel that I can’t do this, the strength to go on comes and I know that such grace is only from above.

It’s been a super-charged week but I’m truly thankful for the sense of well-being, the inspiration, and motivation that I find in this place.

From being in long brain-storming meetings at work, wearing mother and wife hat, writing, blogging, networking and thinking of how best to market my poetry book, how to start my second self-hosted blog that’s calling me, squeezing out time for my second book, it’s really a full calendar, but I’m totally enjoying this.

The show of confidence this past couple of days from fellow sister bloggers who chose to be my strategic partners at a nominal fee has been such a heartwarming gesture.

I’m in the right place. I’m with the right people who inspire me a lot and I’m so thankful for these blessings.

There’s always something to be thankful for. I hope you see it, even if you’ve got to squint your eye 🙂

Blessed be.

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

A deep sense of satisfaction

of peace, I sense within,

as the Sun peeks to say hello

I am happy to embrace me.

*excerpt from my poem*

Family · Gratitude · Life

Is it ever too much? personal

May 11, 2016May 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

I must admit to you that there are days when I start out to pray and that little impish voice in me will say “but you thanked God for this same thing yesterday, so why should you bother him to thank him all over again?”

….And the wiser one in me tells me that “God is never tired of hearing my voice and that I should never forget that he inhabits my praise,” which I can assure you keeps the impish voice sulking in a dark corner and wondering what wise retort to come up with.

Unfortunately for the imp, it always falls short.

Yesterday was my son’s birthday which was also a school day, even though he’s of the opinion that such an important day should be spent eating cake and making merry – which is not a bad idea, however, we struck a good bargain – that boy can negotiate 😉

A bargain that he’ll go to school for classes as usual and also join his mates for their scheduled outing to Ski-Dubai, with the promise that we would have a birthday dinner in the evening and also take him to the theme park to play during the weekend.

For some reason, I wasn’t comfortable with the school outing and my niggling mind led me to pray with them and talk to him about being careful.

By mid-afternoon, the day was running smoothly until my phone rang and it was the school nurse. I detest getting such calls because it’s never something to jump up and down over.

The lady nearly gave me a heart attack! Her slow narration on how some other boy got a bit rough at play with my son and mistakenly hit him in the eye had me chewing my nails in angst. A riot of emotions ran through me. I felt like having bionic powers and hurtling off to the school to grab my child, but a little voice told me to keep calm and thank God.

In relief, I thanked God, for it could have been worse. Asides from a slight redness and puffiness which had gone down, he’s as beautiful as ever.

Which brings me to this point of my story.

Each new day is a present day, a new beginning and the fact that I thanked God yesterday for Grace, Mercy, Favour and hedge of protection over my family, should not make me not to thank him today and tomorrow and the next…

For we are told that when we commit our ways unto the Lord, our paths are established. There’s nothing like too much praise when it comes to the goodness of God.

I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

@ithankful 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.

Gratitude · Personal

For these one’s, I give thanks…personal

May 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

There’s always a reason to be thankful no matter how minutiae, but today I have lots of reasons to be full of gratitude. Gratitude, Grateful, Prayer, Thanks, Blessings, Open

I am 2 day’s away from clocking 365 days of non-stop blogging and it puts me in a reminiscent mood. It may not mean much to some people, but I am still chuffed over the fact that I have diligently stayed the course.

My first book also got published over the weekend and I am totally excited about it.

The exemplary gentleman/publisher who worked with me on this project David Cronin of Moyhill publishing, Sally Cronin’s husband has been so supportive to this novice, answering all my questions down to the nitty-gritty and the book is already receiving excellent reviews.

I gained a worthy and supportive partner this last week, a fellow blogger whose articles inspire me very much. Kaylaa Blackwell of Inspired Beacon, I thank you for having enough confidence in me and finding it worthwhile to partner with me. I will be writing more on this in another post.

For amazing family and friends who don’t cease to surprise me, I am thankful you are all in my life. Your encouraging words literally fuel me. I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha’s poems portray images that stare us right in the face. Images of love, joy, death, pain, challenges, violation, and freedom. She writes in a language that’s rich in imagery, earthy, honest, vulnerable, yet full of the promise of hope, of loving and of Grace. A collection of light and dark soulful prose.

appreciation · Gratitude

It’s been a trying moment and I am trying hard not to scream…

April 27, 2016February 2, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

It’s been a blog challenging, two days to say the least and definitely not amusing.

Having my blog harassed by malicious attempts or whatever, is not something I anticipated dealing with this week and for some good moments, I’ve been made to question and ask what if?

What if I woke up and my almost 1,200 posts have gone poof into thin air?

How will I take it?

I believe I will be hopping mad! I believe all my righteous indignation juices will overflow zealously and my write mode will go into overdrive.

So, after all, said and done and while WP happiness engineers are trying to restore my happy blog to robust health, I am thankful for friends who were concerned enough to reach out and send messages notifying me of the anomaly.

They didn’t run off scared throwing me to the dogs. Now that is called friendship.

I am thankful that I am not yet screaming myself blue in the face and throwing colourful strings of curses. Phew!! It felt good to say that.

It’s all good. I’ll just take a chill and have some cardamon tea while it takes whenever to get things back to square zero.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Family · Gratitude · Personal

The Spirit Of Doubt…personal

April 13, 2016January 29, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha21 Comments

Waking up with the spirit of doubt trying to invade my mind is not my idea of a fun way to rise in the morning. This spirit of doubt was implanted by events outside my control, which affects a member of my loved and extended family *unfortunately, I can’t disclose nor breach their confidence, but nonetheless, this issue weighs heavily on my mind that I found myself entertaining seeds of fear and worry.

Fear and worry add no value, but rather, they take away from the person inflicted by the noisome presence.

They are like creeping plants that grow so fast and try to smother everything good along the way. I am still a fledgling Christian in the sense that I cannot lay claims of having it all sorted out spiritually, but I am so grateful that I have matured enough in the spirit to always remember that God gave me the spirit of love and of sound mind and not of fear.

It may sound juvenile to some, but please believe me, when I say that I deliberately started recounting the positive things of just the previous days and not only did I drown out the voice of fear and worry, but I experienced such upliftment inside me.

The Spring break is over and we are back to the hustling shift of rising early, school runs and what not. I am so grateful for my children and the beautiful time spent together.

My babies are growing up, enough to slap gooey peanut butter sandwiches together, to flip pancakes and make light breakfast for themselves so that their mother can get a little extra lounge time in bed.

For a beautiful, caring soul in my husband who showed me lots of surprising sweet spots through his concern and ministration to my needs these past few days and brought loads of laughter to my lips.

I am thankful for Grace. Grace not to wilt in the sight of pressure. Grace that has stood by my loved one in their trying times and lest I forget, I am thankful for earning my first 34 cents in this blogging space as well as the sustenance to keep at it and not to lose focus.

A lot of times, life brings temptation that seems quite burdensome, but if we keep our face up, the load will slide off our shoulders.

I hope that you are thankful for something today. You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Image credit: Pixabay