My two Kobos and Cents

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My Two Kobo…

           I live in the US and here, there is an idiomatic expression which is “my 2 cents”. The kobo is the Nigerian currency which, I might say that it is not valuable now and much less valuable than what the 2 cents is worth. To find out more, GOOGLE it.

            I woke up to a missed call from a family member in Nigeria who has not called nor talked to me in months. I panicked as to what is going on at home and so I called back. When I called back, she was like, how are you and your family, are you safe?  She mentioned she had friends who had been calling her about her family in the U.S. as they saw all the riots in the news. She was like are you safe?

I am not going to go into all that we talked about, but it got me thinking happy and sad thoughts. Yes, both mixed emotions. Happy that everyone at home in Nigeria is doing well and that the world is no longer a village because of the internet but sad that it takes a tragedy or bad event to make people call.

I have lived in Nigeria, a country blessed with almost 500 languages if not more, and diverse ethnic groups. Most times, people are minorities in the states they live in and work, and are they treated differently yes!

Everyone in the US/ the world is aware of what has been going on in the news in Minneapolis, Minnesota where George Floyd, an African American was killed by a white police officer and for me which is closer to home, Louisville KY- Breonna Taylor was shot to death in her home by police. If you need specifics, go to Google.

I usually try to avoid talking about politics but this time… I will share my two kobos. I am an African American and being quiet does not mean I condone what is happening around me, and I am not making light of my what my friends, family and colleagues are experiencing. All that happened to these individuals George, Breonna recently, and others could have been me, my brother, my friends, my family. It could be anyone. Yes, something has to be done about it.

 Amos 5:24-   -But let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream!

I ask,

Does Rioting get the point across, does looting get the point across?

I have no answers… Ask me and I might have an answer when you do…

  Does racism exist yes it does, and the sad thing is, it is not just in the US- it is everywhere in the world.

What do we do, were can we start?

There are many times I wish my father was alive to ask him what it was like to go to school in the south in the ’70s…what did he do? How did he handle the issues?

 Racism/ discrimination must stop!   

hen my kid was born, I went to get paperwork for my kid and this person implied that it was illegal to get paperwork for a kid that is not mine… My kid is “latte” complexioned because we are a biracial family. I ignored the comment and got the paperwork that I needed and left. I see the looks I get when I walk with my kid because of the color of our skin. And no, I did not marry my husband based on needing to get papers to stay in the US.

I do not want to raise my kid/ kids based on fear because of what people think about me, them, neither do I want to be afraid to be/ live and love wherever I go with my family.

So

I pray. I pray to teach my kids to fear God and love Him deeply and to honor His Word to have empathy, to love- to love our neighbors as ourselves just like the story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told- not just stand there or walk by injustice or people who need help- see Luke 10

God help us

In Nigeria just recently, a girl was raped, to death in the church when she went to study, A 16-year-old- Tina was shot to death by the police, Jennifer who is 12 was raped by men…

Not too long ago, Africans were being ill-treated in China See Video

I end this here…

Life matters, all lives do.  We are all God’s children, fearfully and wonderfully made -Psalm 139:14 which says: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

            Do not let someone’s bitterness, anger, or fear make you forget that!

And that my dears are my 2 kobo and or cents if you want to call it that!

 

 

 

 

A Letter to 2020 Graduates

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Dear 2020 Graduate

First I want to congratulate you! You did it and you are done.

Most times you would hear, so what next? Where are you going to go and what are you going to do?

If you are graduating from high school, you might be asked if you would be going to college and if you were graduating from college, you might be asked; is it graduate school and or joining the workforce? And if you graduated from graduate school; our Nigerian people will say- Well Done, translated I think as a Good job. And if you were graduating from elementary school to middle school and or to junior high you are not forgotten.

Congratulations everyone! You worked hard and I might add, congratulations to your parents too for encouraging you and helping with homework/ taking you to and from school too.

So what next and or wait! What just happened?

Corona Virus happened!

All those plans you made, now what? Were all those years in vain?

I will say nope! Those years are not in vain and do not think that this little set back in time can keep you or should keep you from going for those dreams you had.

Even if you did not have the chance to wear your cap and gown as you planned; you can still do that! I have seen people on Instagram (check out #2020graduation) to see how many people celebrated graduation. Some people had drive through graduations, some were celebrated by family and friends albeit 6ft apart, and some plan on taking pictures when all this is over.

I will share about someone you already know about- Joseph from the Bible. He had dreams and he encountered obstacles upon obstacles but he trusted God. And in the end, he became the man God wanted him -Joseph- to be. If you want to read the complete story of Joseph in the Bible check out Genesis 37 to 50.

I want to say again, Congratulations, and do not doubt your achievement because of this season- aka Corona Virus. Seasons will pass and so will this one.

If you have questions about going to work right after college; I will love to answer them. Reach out via email theizorapodcast@gmail.com

Congratulations again my friends! And feel free to share how you celebrated/ plan on celebrating with me on Instagram @izorapodcast!

And until the next episode-

God bless,

Ezanya

Remembering...

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I hope this finds you well!

This is a unique Memorial Day as most places are closed and families might have been unable to gather due to gathering restrictions from Corona Virus and or for safety reasons. Either way, I hope you were able to rest and or do what you needed to do.

Regarding Memorial Day, here are a few quotes that stood out to me:

G.K Chesterton said: “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.

Ronald Reagan also said: “ And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men (and women), surely, with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and final sacrifice.

With these short words, I want to thank all who served and their families too.

Thank you for your service and God bless your families.

Just Saying Hello

Hello Everyone

How are you and what are you doing?

I have been absent for a bit, we have been busy. Even though things slowed down and or closed; at work it was different. We have been busy and I will add, school has started for me too.

I go in to work, come home and I am exhausted and do not want to do anything else, even homework.

In this new month, I will try to show up as much as I can. Even if it is just with the podcast episodes and we will go from there.

Again I say, hope you are doing good and I will add please stay safe.

God bless,

Ezanya