Hope

It is hard not to think about life, its meaning and our purpose in it when you see a 1 year old baby with cancer; a 98 year old woman being raped; a 8 year old child hands being cut off because he was too hungry and stole some food; a mother being forced to eat her dead son because of the war in her country. More young people are getting involved in unprotected sex completely ignoring the scourge of AIDS. Now, cancer has surpassed HIV AIDS making it look like a ‘flu’ as told by Doctors.

I tried endlessly to make a meaning of this so called life and the more I tried, the more confusing it became. I have a wonderful baby girl and I want the best for her and I certainly can’t imagine seeing her with cancer or any other diseases. I pray GOD to always keep me safe for her sake. The same feeling goes when I think of my family, my friends, and all the people I care for and even those that I don’t know because it is after all human to care for others.

We are born, crawl, walk, talk, go to school, get married, get kids, then get old and die. Is this the real meaning of life or is there something greater than that? Well we know about GOD, we pray HIM daily, we try as much as we can to keep HIS commandments, by we, I am referring to myself and without any doubt HE has been faithful to me. In my darkest moments, HE has been by my side and reassuring me of HIS presence. I love my GOD HE is the best. Every time I think HE has left my side because of my many sins, HE shows me that HE TRULY forgives and forgets. Every time I cry aloud to HIM, HE listens and when HE doesn’t, HE always takes me towards a better path.

I have watched Hotel Rwanda and some other documentaries on the genocide in Rwanda and witnessed some inhuman acts in my own country, Ivory Coast. I saw innocent family being raped and killed. I saw them pray and I know my GOD listen, I don’t understand then why they were killed so brutally. I know a 1 year old child has no sins, he is so innocent, so cute, so adorable and I can’t understand how he can be diagnosed with such a terrible disease such as cancer. I know a 98 year old woman is tired and just want to die peacefully but I don’t understand how someone can go rape her and more importantly what kind of pleasure he can get out of her? I know my GOD can end it all but I don’t understand why HE doesn’t but despite it all, I still praise HIM and do HIS will because that is what I was born to do, I trust HIM, I have faith in HIM and more importantly I know HE knows why HE let it happen.  A coin has two sides; it is up to you to choose the direction you want to focus on. You can focus on just one side or look at the bigger picture. We know of prophets who have suffered so much and now enjoy the happiness they have so longed for. Sometimes or most of the time for some, we experience difficulties that make us doubt the existence of GOD or make us think of ending our lives, but looking again at the bigger picture, what is our average lifespan? 40? 50? 60? 70? What is 70 years of pain compared to the happiness you will gain in heaven? In all times, through various challenges, remember the beatitudes, they are the promises of GOD to us, they are our assurance to everlasting life and my GOD keeps indeed HIS promises:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.