Letter To My Unborn Child (Series One)
Dear ‪#‎Ubuntu‬
‎
Today begins a long-short process of communication between us. With ample disregard for the form you might take, male or female, I understand the limit of my humanness and would never try to play God to you. The person writing this note is a bunch of failures, but I never allow the failings deter my abilities to live life. Depending on God's will, you may be my first of many or even the only, so, I would take the pain to start this rough-smooth conversation. For now, it may be a one-way communication but if time and space permits, I pray you grow to see the need to respond to any of the many letters that may come your way.

Like the slow pace of dark clouds shutting the day out of its brightness, another full year has crept upon me and I must admit, I have spent three decades short of one full of events. I have lived, loved and betray many, it truth, I cannot exonerate myself, all deeds were done by me none by the devil. But they are all subject of circumstances. So #Ubuntu, live your life, remembering that ultimate forgiveness lies with the supreme. Take a cull from the fact that every year I turn a full circle, people in Rwanda commemorate anniversary of their genocide, what this means is that you view life in the prevailing circumstances that affects you. Please do not be rigid to understand that life is flexible and grossly unfair.

Always remember your Mother, many think your mother is lucky to have married me but I feel I am the lucky soul, without her, there would not have been you and without you, there would not be me. You are #Ubuntu – I am because you are. Your coming has transformed me into immortality, just like my coming made my Father Mojeed Adeola Akanbi Sanni immortal. Life is in phases intermittent with sadness, sorrow, joy and death. Dear #Ubuntu, never be afraid to die, fear kills you before you meet death. Never be afraid to offend people when it requires saying the truth to their face. Never carry grudge beyond the setting of the sun. Never fail to satisfy thy self because in the end, only you love yourself.

Dear #Ubuntu, take solace in prayer, but never a basis for first action. God exists, but he would never come down to get things done, so always take action. I must admit your existential configuration frightens me; godless me with godly her, but then it shows you should be closer to her more than me. I assure you, she has a better path to heaven than I do. Take care of your mother as much as I would take care of her. She endured so much, believed and loved me for who I am. She deserves all the care in the world just the way my father gave it to my mother and me before her demise.

After years of toil, with experience in my kit, I can tell you #Ubuntu that farther is not better and more is not best. Always be contented. Understand the difference between godly and worldly but endeavour to enjoy both with a discerning gauge. Be holy but never aim to be a saint. Personally, I feel the burden of sainthood is too enormous for mortals to carry. Let the saints be their saints, you just be yourself.

Dear #Ubuntu, let me tell you a story about how people change and why I have learnt to understand everybody for who they are. It would be an analogy, I hope you comprehend it fast enough, trust me as a father, it would do you lots of good if you do.

While growing up, I took pleasure spending quality time when sent on errands to popular Obun-Ale market in Ikorodu, to sit by the "Elewe-Omo" shop mystified by the Chameleons I see in the cages there. Bewildered, I toy with the animal's ability to change colours and get inquisitive about why it changes because other animals I see don't change in like manners. One day, guess while I was in Junior Secondary Class One, I branched at my Mum's stall (She sells boiled potatoes in front of United High School), I asked her why does a Chameleon change skin, hear what she said,"Ogaa (Chameleon) changes to protect itself from human predators and survive in every environment yet as you can see it still ends up being caught. Humans too change to blend with every situation, learn to see everybody in the colour presented to you, in that way, you can see in their light and catch them at their game." From my Mother to me, I pass this unto you. Human change to survive fellow human predators, earn living and leave above their means but in the end, they get caught in their own grand illusion.

Dear #Ubuntu, never idolise wealth, remember you are richer within. The best of wealth is what you give to the society out of the little you have. Remember, my father bequeathed to me a name unblemished. Protect the family name. Cultivate people, always help others to realise their dreams, be magnanimous, care for the needy because in the end, the wealth the people you help would give you would be more than the wealth a greedy person can ever steal. Always create a distinction between the people's wealth and your wealth. When they give you money in trust, please do remain trustable.

Growing up in our humble town of Ikorodu, My Guardian, who would be your own Uncle, taught me never to run from a war. He often told us to be truthful and defend ourselves no matter what. Today, I realised he did some of those things because he realised he would not be there forever. So today, while I tell you to be respectful, avoid war if necessary but if people intrude into your privacy, Dear #Ubuntu, fight.

Remember #Ubuntu, death beckons with my new age, I would not be here forever. Yesterday, many wished me long life, very few knew what God wrote, but in the end, I would live life and leave when I must leave. Remember, never be afraid to die.

Your Father,
Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni

@blackboxupdate