(An extract from my old journal)

My journey to the mindset I carry today was never a sudden revelation; it has been a slow, winding path shaped by quiet lessons and unexpected turns.

In my early thirties, while working as a teacher’s assistant at Montessori Elementary, a colleague casually remarked that my “stars weren’t aligned.” What was likely a throwaway comment lingered for years, sparking a quiet, persistent reflection on purpose, timing, and direction.

At fifty-five, becoming a grandaunt and hearing neighbors address me as “Ma” or “Aunty” brought a gentle shock of reality. It was a bittersweet transition, teaching me to embrace the dignity and responsibility of new seasons.

Nothing tested that resilience quite like losing my dear friend Helena during the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdown. Healing was slow, but revisiting our shared spaces allowed me to honor her memory and find peace amidst the grief.

Every joy, challenge, and connection has left its mark, shaping me into a woman dedicated to uplifting others and cultivating community.

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Endure hardship as a good soldier-2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV)

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Season of Hardship

In the season of hardship, what can you do?
Can you spin your problems into gold anew?
And if you can, will joy be assured?
So, endure trials, your spirit secured.

You’ll be made into gold, pure and fine,
Not from thoughts in your mind but by the Divine.
Through the Saviour’s hands, you’ll be refined,
A testament of strength, beautifully aligned.

So, walk through the fire with faith as your guide,
For grace will preserve you and stay by your side.
Though winter may linger and shadows grow long,
The trial will yield to a victorious song.

(c) jjf’25

Thanks for reading! 😌