Today is befitting that I should honor you publicly. You have been a source of encouragement and wisdom. You are my sounding board, always available and ready to guide and stand in prayer for me and my family.
Orphaned at 5years of age, you have very vague memories of both your parents. You did not have an easy upbringing being cared for by older siblings and sometimes extended family. Despite the challenges you faced growing up, you chose those difficulties not to define you. Stories are told of many days that you went to bed with an empty stomach. When I have asked you about it, you said:
“Yes, that may have happened but that was in the past, we are here now.”
You have never looked back with any misgiving but with gratitude. You are a generous, giving and loving person. You waited long to get married so that you can extend your gratitude where it was needed first. Thank you for that.
Strong willed and determined. I remember when I was 16years how you fought with your board of directors that I should be allowed to learn computing at your work place. It was either that or they gave you a pay increase to fund my computing lessons. There were only 4computers in the entire clothing manufacturing company that you worked. Indeed, during that summer holiday, every Saturday I attended ‘computing’ lessons within the human resource department of your workplace.
I remember my very first Saturday, the payroll manager didn’t know what to do with me. The computer system was configured to do payroll and nothing else because that what his job. In the end I learnt about the computer components, switching on, off, MS word and a bit of typing. In today’s time, it may seem a waste of time but it meant the whole world to me. Those you worked with had great respect for you, your work ethic and intergrity. This particular incident placed you in a different category altogether in their eyes. Thank you baba👏🏾♥️.
This is one of the many examples of the father you are. You have never wanted me to miss out on any opportunity in life and you still continue even though I am now married with a family of my own. You wanted me to go and study in America but I chose to be engaged and get married. You were greatly disappointed with my choice but you forgave and blessed my intentions.
Thank you for reminding me to dream, chase after my goals and be a better version of myself. During the rare occasions that we get to talk on the phone, you are able to challenge me on my insecurities and fleeting dreams. It’s amazing how you remember most desires that I may have shared with you in conversation.
I’m told you wanted a boy as a first born child but I came along. I remember you telling me that in your eyes I am the first born child you always wanted. You are the wind beneath my wings baba. Incredibly proud of all our achievements as your children like most parents, but you take it another notch. You never do things in half measures and I am honoured to have a tiny strik of that!
For example, how you broke into serious tongues when they announced my name at my graduation ceremony in September 2015. The whole place went quiet as a lot of people couldn’t understand what was going on . For nearly two minutes, the Dean of faculty gave you the chance to express how you felt, those incomprehensible uttering that cannot be understood. I did understand and still do understand baba. I fought to complete that course and secure a job. You knew very well the path I had walked because you walked with me in your prayers, texts messages of encouragement and hope. It was hard losing Bridget just as I started the year long postgraduate degree.
Your journey of faith is a profound one. Filled with so much grace and tangible mercies. Your heartfelt prayers vibrate through all your children and we stand as testimonies of a your travailing prayers. You once worshipped the ancestral spirits, got baptised under the catholic faith. Your transition into pentecostal evangelical, can only be by His grace. I have watched you grow like the tree of Lebanon and indeed your latter days are greater.
I could write a book about you baFadzai.
May the Lord fill your horn to overflow. May He continue to be glorified in you.
Love you forever ❤
Intentional parenting 