What you are about to read is a piece from a new friend and sister of mine. She has been reading from this site for a while, and one day gathered herself and contacted me. Like many of you, she felt that what I was writing was for her, and that rather than let her life pass one second at a time, she needed to get herself involved in the things she truly enjoys. She lives over 10hours away from where I live, so meeting was difficult, but somehow we met – thanks to Holidays and Cash.
After our brief meeting that had so many other people around, we communicated again on phone once and talked about what she was doing and what she would really love to do. I encouraged her to start her blog, and to give herself an opportunity to do what she really wants to do. I counselled her to document her progress, take pictures and really take in the feeling evoked from following her passion and heart. She decided to spend her time at an orphanage, and the piece she wrote when she came back blew my mind. Amazing things can happen when people grow in their soil. Have an exciting read.
Written by Sophia Alale (sophiaalale@gmail.com)
What is your story?
It is often said that one thing people have in common, no matter their race, bank account or age, is time. Recently I discovered something else we all have in common; a story. Every experience you face in life, good or bad, is a story worth telling. Yesterday my friends’ and I visited an orphanage in Port Harcourt, and it was a life changing experience for all of us. It wasn’t my first time of visiting an orphanage, but the impact this visit had on me, will remain a story I will tell for a very long time.
It was a home filled with beautiful children of different ages, sex and ancestry who found themselves living together in a place that is now their home, under the watchful eyes of a keeper they all refer to as father and it doesn’t matter where anyone of them was picked from, in their hearts they see each other as brothers and sisters. Every child in that home had an amazing story; some of their stories would make a grown man weep, while some would only show you how wicked and callous a person can be. What struck me particularly was a little girl, I will love to refer to as Sunshine -that had been blind from birth, she had to be led to the dining room, through the stairs, and even to a person just in case she wanted to say hello. Amazingly however, that child had the happiest smile I have ever seen in my life; everything seemed to excite her; my hair; my wrist watch; and the couch I sat on.
Little Miss Sunshine as I love to call her is trapped in a dark world, a world that cannot recognise colours, and closes its eyes to nature’s beauty. In her world you can’t tell if its day or night, cloudy or sunny, all you see is black, not grey; black. I wonder what thoughts go through her mind; does she imagine what her fingers look like? Does she long to see all the people behind the voices she hears? She might never be able to tell the difference between blue and pink, she might never see a butterfly or admire the early morning sun; she might never see the full moon in its grandeur or the stars that twinkle in the bright blue sky.
Please don’t feel sorry for miss sunshine because in her darkness she has brought light to many hearts. Her smile opened my eyes to the beauty of life and all that God has so graciously given me.
15 thoughts on “What is Your Story?”
Inspiring, thought provoking. If only we could see life through the eyes of someone else. I need to enjoy every step I take as my story unfolds.
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That was really thought provoking.The good part is that,we all to some extent can decide how our story unfolds.
What a story!
Our story is being written as the seconds count. It all depends on how we write our story. I have a story which will soon become history. Before then, i must make sure i write my story in such a way that people who read will be inspired by it. I am a living inspiration!
Beautiful piece… @sophie …. would love to read from you blog if its up.
Hmm.. we always have reasons to be grateful…
Very intriguing story.
Little miss sunshine, God is good,Jst like Jesus said people like this were put here for a reason,nw I see how beatiful and merciful His grace has been on me. @sophie ,i will love to read more from you.
Whao! what a an inspiring story of sunshine.Beauty is not in what we behold with this plastics we call eyes,but in the deepest of our sense of appreciation.
Hmmm, I'm touched. It makes me ask – Am I grateful for the gift of sight?
hello, my name tarun from india , this quatation i9s very benificry related our decision making process .i wish u all the best on ur novels
well in life i have learn alot,well am so mush grateful to GOD and my friend but she is a sister to me for sending me ur site.
i had similar experience when i used to visit minna orphanage during my NYSC,i met two brothers,who are twins,they hav been at the orphanage right form their birth,and glory be to God they are in ss2.i also met a young girl about 4yrs ,who has abig scar right in d middle of her head.and she still looks charming.my visits really humble me,
i will advises pple to visit places like the orphanges,hospitals,cemetry,prisons etc .it makes us count our blessingsannd thank our Maker.
life is all about appreciating GOD; that is the value of nature. So, we need to daily see the reason(s)