My people, my people!!! Oh my goodness, I wish you read that in my excited voice! Only then would you realize the joy welling up from the depths of my heart as I type this message. You’re not asking me what the occasion is, are you? Whattttt, you haven’t gotten the memo? It’s fine, I’ll let you in on it in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!!!
Yayyyyy, The Mirror and Reflections is a year old already!💃 I guess you’re wondering how that’s possible, didn’t we launch the blog just yesterday? My dear, I thought so too o. In fact, I can literally remember all the events that happened on the day it was being launched like it was just some hours ago. But then, thank God the calendar never lies😁. We’re really a year old, gloryyyyyy!
Let me seize this chance to say a resounding “thank you” to everyone who took out time to celebrate this milestone with us on the 18th of October, the turnout was hooooooge (huge)! Your wishes and testimonies were so mind-blowing, and all I can say is thank you to my God for all that He has done through this blog in the space of a year.
I hereby return all the glory over this blog to He who owns it and has made this space a source of blessing to hundreds and thousands of people. To everyone who shared in our joy, I am so grateful to have you in this space.
As I typed in the broadcast message I sent on the anniversary date, thank you for being ever-loving, ever-consistent, ever-present, and ever-committed to this vision. Your suggestions, feedback, and contributions have not gone unnoticed, and they have contributed a great deal to where we are today. It is my earnest prayer that God blesses and rewards your labour of love.
Here’s a disclaimer; today’s post is going to be a very long read, but I trust that you are always ready☺. This post is one that I’ve been longing to share for a while, but I thought it’s best to release it on our first anniversary, and here, you have it!
Today, I’ll be sharing my testimony, and a few lessons I have learnt in the past 365 days or more, particularly lessons surrounding the birth of this blog, and the journey so far. Also, I’ll be putting out my evaluation note for the blog. Now, you see why you can’t get tired, right? So, please get yourself a comfy chair to sit on! Let’s get going, shall we?
Just like I introduced myself when the very first post was dropped on the 18th of October, 2022, I’ll do the same today. Victoria Akinlubi is my name, a licensed and practising Nurse, and I am to the glory of God, the vessel through which God has been sending out the words of encouragement and hope that you have been reading on this space for over a year now.
Alright, it’s story time! Sometime in April 2021 (about two years and six months ago), I got a word from one of my friends after a prayer session that my writing expression should be taken more seriously, as they aren’t just mere writings, but I decided to defer it till after school because of academic commitments.
Before that time, I had been putting out write-ups which were occasionally posted on my WhatsApp stories, but that was all to it before the message came in April 2021. After some time, I started to feel like there was something I should do but I wasn’t doing, and I got to understand it was related to writing, but I still didn’t do anything about the burden.
After about a year (that was in April 2022), the idea of starting a blog came, but boy was I scared! I discarded the thought as soon as it came for a couple of reasons; first, I was “worried” about what to write every now and then. Then, I also thought of people’s reactions to the blog.
There was just this rising anxiety over an idea that I hadn’t even started, so I just laid it aside. I was not ready to push past what I had going (writing and posting on my WhatsApp status, which was a smaller space to reach, at least that was my thought at the time).
But guess what, the burden to begin the blog just grew STRONGER! Then, I started paying attention, and I began to ask questions in my spirit about the name and purpose of the blog. God, being the Faithful Father that He is, and of course, He that sees to the beginning and completion of a thing, brought answers to every question on my mind.
As time went on, my faith and conviction about the vision started building up. Finally, I decided to give it a go and began counting the cost it takes to begin, including the people to work with!
A remarkable testimony to mention is the design of this website, it was all orchestrated by God in a way beyond my imagination! It was a huge defining miracle that further strengthened my conviction about this assignment, and made me anticipate the things God was set to do.
I also did some research on how a blog is run, and what blog posts look like, got acquainted with people who had gone ahead of me in the journey and are doing exploits, sought advice and wise counsel, and took proper note of every information I got.
My dear reader, the first post was eventually dropped on the 18th of October, 2022. Do you remember “My Hearty Welcome?” Yes, that was the first post on this space, in which I shared the purpose and vision of the blog. The post is still on the site, you can access it by a search.
I was honestly sceptical about the reaction I’ll get after the first post, but by then, I had gotten to a point of no return. What’s the worst that could happen? No one gets to see, read, or acknowledge the post. At least, that was my thought, but trust God to be full of pleasant surprises.
To my utmost surprise and the glory of God, there were about 157 reads that very day, which got me very humbled and surprised, not to mention the reads recorded the following day and beyond. There weren’t just reads, there were also tons of congratulatory messages, great feedbacks, and awesome contributions.
Do you know that from then till date, there have been 36 posts on this blog, this anniversary post being the 36th. That was how my anxiety of “what will I write?” was allayed oo. Every post has kept me in awe of God’s display of wisdom in a mere mortal! I promise you, He has honoured and proven Himself to be faithful over and over!
Every time I open a blank document, I just trust Him to fill up the pages with light, and He has never disappointed me. I read these posts again even after writing, and I’m just wowed at the insights that have been penned down! Permit me to say that they have always been a blessing first to me even before it gets out to other people, of whom you are a special breed.
As I wrote in the goodwill message I sent to the blog’s mail address, this has been a system of development for me, and I have been stretched through this medium. I’ll be a deceiver if I say all I had in this one year was a bed of roses.
Were there days I didn’t feel like writing? Did I ever get discouraged, had a down moment, or was on the verge of giving up? You bet, I did! Did I pass through the gate of inconsistency? Yes, with a guilty face!
Are you asking if I overcame, and how? Yes, I did, and here I am with the words of my testimony! First, I have had to revisit my journal often to read all I had written about how God started with me, the testimonies, every defining moment, the promises I documented before, and I relive those moments. This alone brings me into a consciousness of “If He did it before, He can do it again!”, and that’s something I’m so confident about.
Again, I remember the testimonies and feedback that have come in from people who have read posts from this blog, and my faith is restored. It has been my joy knowing that lives are being blessed, and God is being honoured through the thoughts on this page.
As I mentioned earlier, I cannot count how many times I have had to read the posts again and see how much of a message they are to me first. I have come to the understanding that these messages are also mine to take note of, meditate on, and take as keys for growth and encouragement.
Over time, I have also come to the consciousness that there is someone somewhere who sees this space as a haven; a place where he or she can find solutions to matters arising, or a shield from the harshness of the world. Coming to this realization has also kept me going.
I can never forget to mention that I have had to take some time off to take care of myself. To be honest, it can be very difficult being the voice of encouragement when you are top of the list of persons to be encouraged.
However, it is important to get yourself revived and draw strength from He who is your source. When everything and everyone else changes, He remains constant, the ever-present Help you will ever see.
Now, I would be an ingrate if I failed to mention the impact of encouragements, check-ups, and prayers from you, my beloved reader! I know that you have mentioned this blog and the writer in your prayers at one time or the other, and guess what, your prayers were answered! I am a living testimony!
Now, let me answer the question I put in the title! Really, one year stronger? Yes, I am one year stronger! We are one year stronger! This blog is one year stronger! Though we are not yet where we want to be, we are not where we used to be! We are better than we were, and we keep getting better!
This is me speaking to a visionary who is still stalling. You have received a divine idea to begin something that will be imprinted in the sands of time, a mind-blowing idea through which multitudes of ideas and innovations will be brought forth, yet you can’t seem to begin because you have a reason (which might seem legit) not to get started just yet.
Here’s what I have to say to you; the time in the world would never be enough to make all the excuses you have if you choose to sit with them. If you don’t rise to the occasion, that legal reason you have will keep modifying itself into diverse forms, and do you know something that isn’t going to wait till you have it all out together? TIME!!!
Yes, time is on the move whether you begin or not! You therefore cannot afford to keep sitting back with arms folded. Once you are convinced that this is what you have been called to do, why not just begin rather than worry your pretty head about how it will all take shape?
The One who has called you to it is able to make all resources flow in your direction in abundance, including intellectual resources. Yes, you are worried about how to put the words together, or how to make the idea solid.
Relax, you have a wisdom source that never runs dry! Toss your fear away and stop making excuses for yourself.
Fear not, little flock! Put your faith into action by starting with the little resource in your hand and trusting that what you have will be multiplied. Your Father has innovations in store. You can always trust that He who gave you the idea can unravel the puzzle and connect the dots all the time.
This is not to say that you should not get prepared or get trained if there’s something you have to do. In a situation where your beginning point needs adequate training, please diligently undergo your training. It is to equip you for what lies ahead.
However, don’t forget that you also need to keep learning on the job. Therefore, understand the peculiarities of the space to which you have been called, get adequate and proper information, and get started.
Bear it in mind that as long as what you are doing revolves around reaching out to people, a soul counts, just one life is very significant! You might not get the responses in their numbers, that however does not mean you are on the wrong track. Stay committed, be open to learning, and see the growth happen to your advantage.
In the same vein, it is true that you need feedback as a form of evaluation. However, don’t always rely on the responses to validate how well you are doing, take note of the word “always”. Don’t be so fixated on praises that you lose your joy or sense of worth when they are not coming through. Remember, even if it’s just one response, it still counts for something.
Here’s my prayer for a visionary who has had to take a break or put a stop to that good intention, divine vision, or idea, having been interrupted by fear or any other reason, I pray you receive a rekindling of passion in your spirit, and the fire comes alive just like it did the first time you received it. Your wonder is restored, your testimony is restored, and your hope is restored!
Huh, I hope you have learnt one or two things from my story. If it’s your first time reading from this space, you are highly welcome! I hope you stay connected and never make a U-turn from this space. Shout out to the readers who have stayed from inception till now, the real MVPs! My all-time supporters, I love you!
I make a renewed commitment to this assignment under God to serve, spend, and be spent to see His will being accomplished in our lives through this space! So help me God!
Till next time, I remain Victoria Akinlubi. Keep hope alive, you are loved!❤️
