And off you go!

Its 4 o'clock in the morning and I just dropped off my brother at the airport. We talked about many things, his aspirations, dreams, hopes, goals and life in general. He has great hopes for his future and he spoke with such determination in his eyes that I know he will achieve all his goals. Discussing with him brought back so many memories of the 18 yr old who left Nigeria many years ago. I remember my father talking to me at the airport, I remember crying as I waved him goodbye, I remember being scared on the plane, I remember feeling cold and thinking everything seemed strange. Those days are long gone now and instead of a scared girl, I am now a woman giving the same advice my father gave me years ago "buy a bus card immediately, so you can move around", "stay out of trouble", it all sounded so foreign to my ears, has time gone by that fast? I still remember carrying him on my bicycle, taking him to school, I remember our secret treats of "fried fish and yam" from a roadside seller, I remember him chasing me out of the house with a stick, I remember when he could not pronounce my name properly, I remember all this and I want to cry. He has grown and I am so proud of my brother who today told me his hopes of saving enough money so he could take care of mummy, she is getting old, of finishing the house my father started. It struck me that his dreams were so unselfish, thoughts of others. As he starts his journey into adulthood and life, I close my eyes and pray.....

Dear Lord, guide my brother, let him continue to be the good and kind person you have made, may his days on earth be full of love and kindness, may his life continue to be a blessing to everyone around him, but most of all, give him happiness and fulfillment.

The world is waiting, off you go!