Mable Amuron

Dear Emma and Angela I am writing to you from 2028. I have just now completed wrestling with the children over night time baths and the husband is now sitting down to tell them bedtime stories. I am pretty sure these stories will involve a lot more dragons, swords and carnage and pillaging than I would like them to know at their age but…what to do, right? I have just slipped away from that chaos to write this letter. It's interesting how twenty years ago, at eighteen, I was pretty sure that I would have it all in ten years. I was so sure that I would have the car, the house, the husband, the kids, the job. I actually remember writing a letter from 2018 to my younger self in 2008, listing down all the things I thought I wanted at the time, all the things that society dictated I had to have in order to be truly successful. Fast forward a few years later and I was still living in my parents’ house and I was jobless and without the car, the house, the kids or the husband. In society’s eyes I was a failure. And at that point, I was more less stuck in an existence and not truly living life. Watching friends, I grew up with and ones I went to school with, have “all that” and have seemingly figured out the adulting thing and yet I was still essentially growing up. Am I the same person I was ten years ago? No, I do not believe that I am. I made a choice in 2018 to grow out of the rut that I had been stuck in, a rut that is called the comfort zone. So I joined gang.. I needed to not be stuck any more and I figured that a jolt to the system was what I needed. And it was a shock to the system. I had been procrastinating getting a black belt in lean six sigma and my excuse had always been that there was no money and I didn't have enough time to study. But I put away the excuses and actually studied for it. And I was availed the cash by some miracle and I was then able to start a business after extensive research. Out of something that I have been passionate about for the longest time, which is T-shirts with awesome and/or weird messages. Messages like “I read and I know things” and Socrates saying, “All I know is that I know nothing”. To inspiration messages. Then on to dresses and tank tops with these words. These were big dreams that were suddenly achievable because I stopped trying and I started doing (this is something that is in the phenomenal book, intentional living by John Maxwell) Because I decided to really immerse myself in the process of getting better and growing up , I was able to reconcile with my father's family and get on better terms with them. I had held resentment for them from the time I was child and these people that were meant to protect and provide for me were the ones that didn't. But besides the occasional lapse in anger at the way my aunt carries herself, I know that I have forgiven them and let go of the hurt. And I have also forgiven my father and mother for dying when I was too young. Stepping away from that anger made me realise the blessings I had taken for granted, like the man I call father, who helped nature my gift in writing and made me realise that it's OK to be the weird girl in the corner at a party reading a book. And helped me find my self-worth. And the woman I call mother who was there for me from the moment I was born and has been a guiding force in my life. She is truly my hero and I long to be like her. My relationships with my friends improved greatly and so did my ministry. I'm a published author. And saying those words out loud still gives me a thrill.. In 2018, I started out on a journey to become a published author. I had a story clanking around in my head for a very long time. There was a sassy voice in my head for a long time whispering her story and I decided to stop talking about writing about her story and actually writing it. The book is called, “the diary of an African millennial christian”. This tiny book led to more and more opportunities for growth. The saying that comes to mind when I look at my life is, “I may not be I want to be but thank God that that I'm not where I used to be.” I have grown up, I have beautiful friends and family that support me, a business I love and my writing that has helped people to grow and be better. I am truly grateful to the two of you. For answering the Lord’s call to service and generally just being awesome people. I am grateful for the friend that invited to join Worship Harvest Jazzville. The first time I stepped in the church, it felt like coming home. And I have found my growth there. God has been faithful. It's lights out now, time to go and kiss the babies good night. Yours truly Mable Amuron.