To Whom It May Concern I

I have a huge red blob of pink skin showing at the bottom of my chin because I picked at a zit and now I am stuck looking like a not so attractive, self destructive, face prone criminal zit picker. That is the least of my worries right now though because I have far more important things to smile about. A friend of mine forwarded me a link to an article that was printed in one of the less popular Ugandan newspapers (perhaps because they actually do what they are supposed to – report real matters) back in October 2005 and it brought fresh feelings of love and admiration. I cannot begin to describe the feeling I get when I read about someone I know well, interviews are often the best ways to get me to feel this way. It's the knowledge of what the person is really saying that any regular reader may pass over. It's the humor in things taken too seriously; it's the life of the story. I read this particular piece as if it were for the first time. I know I talk about him a lot but this is my blog right? I do what I want and he is a person I shall never cease to admire. There is one thing he said that I found extremely true. Heroic people also have heroic flaws. Pause and think about it. I did. Thinking about all the people I've admired historically speaking, and in my present time, I have found it to be true that the great deeds are usually bogged down by the 'flaws' of many great men and women. It is typical for humanity to revel in one's misgivings rather than their contributions to society however small the assertion may be. People forget too soon that their very lives have changed remarkably because of a few good men's sacrifices. There are so many simple things in a person's life that are taken out of proportion or downplayed to a level of inadequacy that the said person in the end begins to feel alienated and different when really, they are the braver ones of the whole because they decided to follow the route less travelled and be 'their own man' so to speak. Many times I have wondered where such strong virtues come from, from which soils such determination and realness stem from. I have been left with the answer that time will reveal all things in due course. His life definitely wasn't easy and some may say that he's got it good right now, they may say a whole load of useless garbage but does it really matter? In the end, he is going to go out knowing that he tried his very best to live an honest and giving life. See why I want to be just like him yet? No? I'll share some more…I remember, a couple of years ago, mama and I were perched on the comfy leather chairs in our living room listening to Capital FMs desert Island disc on a Sunday Night. We usually enjoyed this show and until that moment, I had liked the presenter's voice. It was then that mama said something to me that the presenter had said on a morning show not long before. He had called the one man I love with my all, a useless, stupid, corrupt something or other, I didn't care to listen to the exact words but I was heated enough to start a short letter to Mr. Know It All Kwarko. I eloquently jotted down my disdain for his meaningless banter and assured him that the family was a large one and would in fact grow up to be a lot like the useless man he'd just insulted and that he better be prepared for it because we (the large family) were working on our best 'we are our father's children' from here on out. Needless to say, mother dearest laughed off the well thought out letter and said something to the effect of, 'how many of these are you going to write? It's his problem not yours so carry on living.' And she couldn't have been more correct. I did not send the letter to Mr. Kwarko, I quickly tuned out of mindset: destruction; that was determined to a)dislike any of his next shows, and b)I shut the little voice up that said, 'he's Ghanaian, what does he know about Uganda and it's people?'I can't say I've listened to much radio since (because I don't have that luxury being away from home and all) but like many things, we learn to tune out the hindrances of life. Reading daddy always gives me that feeling… nothing else can make me feel the same way, I could laugh, cry, and yell at the little piece of paper on which his words are printed – all at the same time! I feel blessed every single day for having him in my life.And then there are the ones that think they are clever, attacking a woman of great strength and virtue from her seemingly weak side. What they don't know is that nothing could ever separate her from the love which God has showered upon her. Her middle name is Ahimbisibwe and that is what she does from the rising of the sun to its fall. She praises her LORD with all her might and concerns herself with the duties of a wife and mother. She provides for and protects her children and husband and would never let harm come within a yard of anything they hold dear. Daddy very recently told me that she works through her issues with laughter. It is like a remedy for all things bad, doused in a loving heart, marinated richly with faith, and served with a peace of humility. I can testify to this truth about her. Not once have I seen her breakdown because someone else tried to bring her down with them. Her ability to hold her own while comforting others is amazing. Yet again, I am working on my best 'I am my mother's daughter' so world, prepare yourself for another colloquially praising, constantly laughing, responsible, and loving, crazy (in her own right) woman.This April fool's day, I sent her a message telling her that my apartment had been burglarized and despite the hopeless effort to sound convincing, she fell for it. Her reaction was calm and very collected. She asked me if they'd touched me or done anything to me (I later found out that her biggest worry was that I'd been raped), and then she told me to call the police and call her back later. I was so dumbfounded with the sweetness of her reaction that I felt bad about playing the prank on her in the first place. Of course she breathed a long relieved sigh when she found out it was just a joke but that moment in itself taught me something. When I asked her how she could be so calm, she replied, "I had to be [calm] for you!" Much later, she sent me a text message saying I was indeed a mad woman (muraru in her wise Runyankore/Luganda spelling), as she'd always suspected. And that is what a mother is in my mind, one that will show you the ropes of the 'trade' through their actions and wisdom, their strength, and perseverance.So Mr/Mrs/Ms whomever it may concern, if you think that real happy mother/child relationships do not exist, I say to you, come and spend only an hour with mama and I and you will live a memorable experience of all things funny, childlike, loving, gentle, and peaceful. For the ones that maintain that the people who brought me into this world are dysfunctional, that our heritage is tied to evil, I say to you, go find another hobby because this is not a war you want to delve into. How can you, an outsider begin to concern yourself with that which God has first loved? Better yet, let's make it simple for you, read This Book and you'll see at the end there that WE WIN! It makes me laugh out loud sometimes to think that the most banal things pass as truth and yet people lecture all around the world that they seek only truth when really, they are unable to humble themselves enough to love The Truth. For those whose tongues have a tendency to flicker in the worst manner, spreading lies to no end, I remind you, that people have always talked, and what we are all doing now has already been done, our end remains the same and the best thing to do would be to secure your end because I know mine and my family's. And how can I forget the ones that sum up the whole category, those that are NOT concerned (and shouldn't be in any manner), I assure you, My Yeshua Shalom has me in mind, He loves those that I love, and He loves you too, so no worries, a bigger Entity has this in control so why not spend some more time getting to know Him rather than wasting your life away?Bless!