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A few months ago, I had this plant I loved so much. It was so green and luscious and reminded me of how my life seemed to have been going. I had a thriving career, lovely children and of course an amazing husband.

One day I stepped out to my garden and behold my luscious plant was gone, eaten up by these really healthy looking caterpillars. Immediately, I was reminded of how I’d been feeling since I had a procedure done– hollow and somewhat withered, like my dear plant.

Angry, I Immediately wanted to do the first thing we all do, to cut it off since it was no use and no life could possibly come from it, but my gardener convinced me otherwise and I let it be.

Everyday I went to check on it but there was no progress and I got so frustrated. It reminded me of myself; how I felt stagnant like no good could come from me now. How I had started so many businesses that failed. How I wasn’t even the best at my job. I even had books written but not published. I felt like I had been eaten up by all the issues of family and life and I seemed to have withered. Or so I thought .

My life might have seemed so perfect on the outside, but within I was eaten up and I almost gave up. In fact there were days I wasn’t even speaking to myself.

Perhaps, you’re also there and it feels like your life is not going well, or you’re in a job you hate (speaking to myself), maybe you feel like you are too old to start anything or have failed so much at most of the things you have done, then I am sharing this for you. You may wither but you are not dead and as long as you don’t uproot and give up, trust me you will bloom again.

Below is my withered plant eaten up by caterpillars in May:

This is the same plant in September. Oh, and I named it Ifeoma, after me because I think she’s beautiful and tenacious like me. 

I speak to not just anyone reading this but also to myself — be strong and of good courage. He that started the work is able to complete it, and just like Ifeoma, we will be green and luscious again. 


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This article was first published on 29th October 2017

ifyobi

Ifeoma C. Ik-Obi is a lawyer and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association with over thirteen years’ experience. She is a certified etiquette trainer and has facilitated trainings geared towards the development of Children, Teens, and Organizations in understanding the fundamentals of etiquette and good communications skills. An avid enthusiast of the arts, she is also an interior decorator and well... a writer of course. A wife and mother of five lovely children, she personifies work-life balance and believes her role as a wife and mother tops all other roles. She loves reading and gardening.


Comments (7)

7 thoughts on “MOMS’ CORNER: The Story is Not Over Yet”


  • This is timely and i am grateful to read this article. Indeed, I will bloom again. God bless you real good Ma.


  • Thanks Ifeoma for this. 10 years ago, I was in a such a place of despair, eaten up by doubt and self pity. It was so bad. I couldn’t see beyond my nose how much more a bright future. God in His mercy reached out to me and taught me that it’s not over even when I think my life is over. There is always hope for a tree even when it is cut down. God taught me to climb the watch tower of my life, He taught me to lift up my eyes and look so I can see what He will say to me (Habakkuk 2). As long as I see clearly and write out that clear instruction plainly, I will not just live again, I will run again.


  • Truly, God will complete the good work he started in our lives.It is never over with God on our case.


  • Amen. This is true word. Thanks Ify Obi.


  • This is epic, and powerful! #MondayMotivation


  • Thank you so much Snr @ifeoma for sharing .
    God bless you


  • This is so inspiring and amazing Ify. Thanks a lot.

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