LONG TIME, NO GRATITUDE!

Unhibernates........

Nuella Blaq

Nov 06, 2024

Knock! Knock!

“Who is there?”

“It's me, Ella.”

Screamsssss…. “Yayyyy, she's back.”

There's this way I feel when I've been away from home, family or familiar spaces for an extended period of time and I finally have to head back.

The build-up of nerves, the nervous uncertainty of what to expect, the anticipation of how I'd be received, the excitement of reconnecting with loved ones, the surety of just going back to the familiar (well, just before see-finish starts to enter); that's how I feel right now crawling back to this space, sneaking back to Substack -Home.

This is Home to many of my thoughts, ideas, concerns, worries, tears, laughters, unsaid words, memories, inspiration, feelings and joy. This is Home to me and even though I hate that I had to be away from home for a very long time, it's for a purpose; it's God's plan, so I don't mind.

How are you doing my dearest family? What have you been up to? What have you been learning and unlearning in this season of your life? How have you been staying grounded through it all? How are you figuring out or navigating your 20s? How much tangible growth have you made these past few months? What are you most grateful for today? Let's catch up in the comments.

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I came on here to share something the HOLYSPIRIT impressed on my heart, it's about a shared gift that we have in our arsenal as believers. Here goes;

It's exactly one week today since my younger sister left for school newly and home has not been the same since. While she was present, we greatly underestimated the power of her presence and importance.

My sister being the lastborn bore the burden of huge, tedious, gruesome tasks, errands, chores and responsibilities around the house, tending to everyone and myself inclusive and she did it with grace and vigor - well, except you add some grumbling and mumbling here and there and a sprinkle of complaining and bad character when she was fed up of our incessant, endless requests…… but she did it anyways.

Just one week of trying to fill in her shoes, I'm already burnt out. Phewwww. I've done in three days what it took her one day to finish. I've gone to places I never had to be at because she did. I've done things for myself and others that I never had to do while she was presently present.

Now, I'm trying to refrain myself from screaming back when they scream my name, trying to hold myself from tearing out my hair or the need to move out somewhere else, my neighbour's place or church house or the street…. anywhere else but here. (I'm just kidding oo, move out ke, in this economy? Abeg where is that broom sef?)

While all these is happening, I have now realized that,

You never really know how blessed and helped you are until the help ceases to be.

This brings me to the gift that Jesus left for us, the person of the HOLYSPIRIT. He is our helper.

But how many times do we get so used to being helped by the HolySpirit that we no longer acknowledge Him?

If you helped someone as much as the HolySpirit helped you and they never acknowledge it, imagine how underappreciated you'd feel.

I hear people say things like, “A voice in my head” or “I felt it in my guts” or “my instincts” or “my mind.” Everything else but to acknowledge who is really worthy and I really want to scream out loud “It's the HolySpirit!!!”

Why are we so ashamed of acknowledging the HolySpirit?

I'm now more aware of the vital role my sister plays in my life and in our home that had been previously trivialised and overlooked because she’s the LASTBORN. (The HolySpirit is not the least of the trinity, He's the last to be revealed. The HolySpirit is God.) Little wonder she started to show us small small shege, she felt underappreciated for all the effort she was putting into carrying out her responsibility.

We've had to fend for ourselves since she left. If the HolySpirit ever leaves me to fend for myself, I'm finished!!!

I am more advantaged because of the Spirit of God in me, helping me, empowering me, enabling me, interceding for me, groaning for me, encouraging me, leading me, reminding me, convicting me, directing me, prompting me. Literally does all that without complaining.

O, how much I have grieved Him in the past but He still remains a present help.

You may want to argue that it's His responsibility but truth be told, there are many people who are aware of their responsibilities but choose to be irresponsible, so shoot me if I have to appreciate someone for choosing to be responsible.

Let's normalize patting people on the back for just being responsible…… it's not easy being a responsible woman (person) in a world of so much irresponsibility, temptation, promiscuity, looseness and indiscipline.

Lately, I had been asking God to help me decipher when it's the HolySpirit talking to me or when it's just me in my head and I have come to realise and ascertain even more dauntingly that it's been the HolySpirit all along; leading me with precision, accuracy and purposefully in seemingly little and great things. I'm more aware now that I have never been without help….all my life.

Let's take out quality time to acknowledge the HolySpirit, to be grateful for the HolySpirit.

For everytime He impressed something on your heart and it was accurate, for everytime you were reminded of something, for all the times you were clearly helped, for even making sure that you stumbled on this letter, for even just being present in our lives, thank you HolySpirit. For even inspiring me to write this letter, thank you HolySpirit.

Let's normalize gratitude to the HolySpirit.

Need I remind you that this is my birthmonth, so, handle me with care. I have mixed feelings about birthdays but I'm intentionally trying to pick out the wrong type of feelings and lean more into the positive ones, making sure I enjoy this moment like never before even if it's me basking in the goodness of God.

Because I can clearly see the goodness of God upon my life. Even the ones I can't see, amazes me even further how the God of the universe will choose to concern Himself with my very mundane existence.

Moses said “I am nothing” and that I really am, “NOTHING”