Two negative Events and how I reacted to them.

One of my favorite sayings, is "It's not the situation. It's how you handle it". Tell us about a moment when you used your thoughtfulness to turn a negative situation into a positive outcome. If you weren't able to make things right... why not?

It's a beautiful morning here and I am grateful for the privilege of life. This is actually my first time participation in thoughtful post weekly contest and I was captured by the beautiful topic. There are two painful events that I will like to share and how I reacted to it.

On 23rd December 2004, was a sad day for my family as my always smiling dad woke up that early morning and couldn't move his legs, we taught maybe he was trying to prank us but we realized it was not a joke when he started crying that he is in pains. We rushed him to Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta and that was how he was diagnosed of stroke. We were in and out of hospital for two years spending everything we had on series of medical tests and drugs. In all this my Dad was always hopeful and he smiles often. I remembered how I do drive him around on his wheel chair and we laughed and chatted about life. He was just a man I loved despite his inadequacies in some areas. The entire family was affected by his illness because we had to rotate who stays with him every week so as to keep up with work and studies. It got to a time we were all tired and we will fast and pray for a miracle.

I remembered watching series of miracle services with my Dad and hoping he will rise to walk again.
December 30th 2006, My mom called that we lost our Dad, it was a great blow on I and my sisters, we cried till day break and we couldn't but imagine life without him. I asked God to give him back to us even if he wouldn't be able to work for the rest of his life. I cried and cried for nights because he was my favorite and best friend.

I sat under the tree in our compound on the 4th of July, 2006, when I had a deep reflection of what happened, I said to myself He had to go for the burden to be taken off the family. If his condition had worsen I might not like his appearance. I encouraged myself and the people around me that although his death was painful, it's actually a relief for the family and we thank God that he actually died a peaceful death. He died at exactly 70 years of age.

Forward to January 1, 2020, I was with my immediate elder sister and we were cooking to celebrate the new year. She told me of how she battled with miscarriages in her marriage in the past year and I held her hands and prayed with her that 2020 is her years to carry her baby. February 12, She called me that she is pregnant again, I was happy for her and encouraged her to be positive about this particular pregnancy because it has come to stay.

On the 25th of June, 2020, during the lockdown her husband called me early in the morning to discuss about my eldest sister because we were just 3 girls from my mom. Although I have step sisters and brothers but we don't relate that much. My mom was the last wife and the only wife that lived with my dad. So, he told me how my two sisters had an argument and he couldn't resolve it. So, I requested to speak with my immediate elder sister but he told me she was busy in her shop that I should called back later in the day. Not quite long his call came in again and I was surprised at first, I picked it only for me to be told that my sister slumped while arranging things and they are on their way to the hospital. I spoke with him assuring him that nothing will happen to his wife. I was so confident that nothing will happen

He called again to tell me that no hospital accepted her because she was brought in dead. I lost my sister and the unborn baby. This particular death had a great effect on me. Different thought came to my mind but it wasn't just working. Will I say God took her to relieve the family? Or what? The thoughts were not just working. I went into depression likewise my mom and her husband. Her only child of 2 years was the only consolation we had then. Her lost is still a great sadness to me till date but I'm out of depression same as others. We have moved on but the pain is still there.
In summary, the first event although painful at first I reacted to it positively but the second one I reacted to it negativity because it actually got me down.
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