Living life purposefully

I wrote this a few days after my birthday

The past couple of days have brought profound self-assessment and deep reflection. It has been a time of detailed self-audit.

Just two days before my birthday, I faced a profound loss when someone I had never met but admired from afar passed away. This shook me to my core. I found myself filled with questions for God, constantly asking how and why, exclaiming "Wow!" while sighing deeply and taking in breaths of disbelief. In those moments, I asked God for mercy and for a second chance at life on earth for her.

She was laid to rest a few days after my birthday. I watched, read, and listened to touching tributes to her life during her 40 years on this earth. I also viewed interviews she had given about fertility issues and her life’s purpose on YouTube.

As I absorbed these reflections, I gathered lessons from this remarkable daughter of the “Most High.” I recognized a woman who possessed the following:

1. A vibrant relationship with God, her Creator.

2. A vessel who acted swiftly on God's promptings and directions.

3. A yielded heart and spirit.

4. A woman with a beautiful exterior and an even more beautiful heart.

5. A heart that remained untainted despite the hurts and betrayals of the world.

6. Strength and hard work.

7. A person who excelled in every task, reflecting the excellence of her Heavenly Father.

8. A heart that loved people genuinely, regardless of their social standing.

9. Someone who was truly present and engaged.

10. A diligent professional, a consistent pacesetter in her industry.

11. A leader who fostered a sense of family among her staff, a rare privilege for many.

12. A non-judgmental child of God who lived a "go ye into the world" kind of life, reaching out to everyone.

13. Someone who prioritized a life of impact over material wealth.

14. A woman fulfilling her purpose while remaining deeply connected with family.

15. A humble and self-effacing individual who blessed many without seeking attention.

16. A fearless woman!

I've learned that beauty is lost when we procrastinate and live as if we will be here forever. I choose to celebrate my loved ones fully while they are still here and to express my love for them more often. I realize the importance of reaching out to others with urgency whenever they are placed on my heart.

As we all do, she faced her weaknesses and turbulent seasons, yet she chose to fulfill her purpose despite it all.

Happy 40th birthday in Heaven, First Lady Ibidunni Ituah Ighodalo! Your life is a sermon that will continue to inspire many of us until we take our last breaths on this earth.