DECRYSTALIFE

I remember most of my children's day celebration vividly like its yesterday. Its always been one of my favourite holiday back then as a child; even now i will definitely stay clued to the television to watch the 'march past' and cultural displays. The 'march past' being one i was always involved in. Putting in all my effort like my life depended on it. Days of rehearsals unending and i being eventually choosed to be infront of the school banner; leading the school to march past the governor of the state or who represents him in the event. My school uniform well ironed with no fault on it, sandals polished with white socks. My hair neatly done that i was always being teased as carrying Christmas tree on my head because of the colourful beads. The 'D' day arrives, 8Am am already at school. Our games master counts the number of children boarding the school bus and we head off to the stadium. The atmosphere is charged up with competitive spirit of...

In the year 2006, i took seriously ill in boarding school that i had to be sent home to my mother. Something i didn't really like because of the financial constraints she had; we had to move from one part of the town to another part to enable her pay rent comfortably and reduce some of her expenses. So, i didn't want to increase it for her but all the same i was sent home. I was high with fever that you could feel the heat coming out of my body, headache, body aches and appetite was gone. My mum did all she could for days and nights nothing worked. She prayed; anointed me with oil, feet washing and  used the mantle. Nothing still worked. She resorted to calling her sister and brother in-law who are medical practitioners. They too ran all the test, gave me all forms of medication to atleast bring down my fever but it didnt work. I was weak, no food eaten; surviving on glucose D and ORS (oral rehydration solution). In the pain of it all, God still kept me. Prayers was ...

I feel so gross. I said that, well thought that, to myself this morning as I looked in the mirror after getting off the scale. I have been practicing that negative self talk for some time now.  I am by no means fat. I have a few extra pounds on me after having my son a year ago. I have been making healthier choices and working out but it’s not going away quickly. It’s discouraging and frustrating and at times, clearly, affects my self esteem. The day didn’t get any better as I got dressed and didn’t like anything I tried on. I pouted before settling on an outfit and heading out the door, my son on my hip. I ran my errands, feeling sorry for myself but not showing it outwardly. Then I hopped on Instagram and saw a picture of Kylie Jenner, posed for some magazine, looking like, well, a model. I thought, Ok, not fair, she had a baby like a few months ago right?! She already looks better then me. Then it hit me, why am I comparing myself to Kylie Jenner? Her body is her jo...

A story is told of a gardener who served in a large estate in northern Italy. The garden was well-groomed and tended to,that visitors came just to see the garden.  On this particular day, the gardener was conducting a visitor through castle and beautiful garden. Lunch time came and the gardener invited the visitor join him and wife. The visitor commended them for the tending to the garden so beautifully. He then asked, "By the way, when was the last time the owner was here?" "About ten years ago." The gardener replied. "Then why do you keep the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?" Asked the visitor. The gardener replied, "Because am expecting him to return."  "Is he coming next week?" The gardener replied, "I don't know when he is coming, but I am expecting him today." The owner of the estate didn't come back that day. And the gardener was still tending to its owners garden. This st...

Episode 2. I was still devastated with the thoughts of Ifeoma and my husband David. After I watched the kids sleep, I strolled into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea. Just after I poured the milk in a mug, I felt someone was in the kitchen too. I looked back, quickly surprised. “Welcome Madam,” she said, almost stuttering. I slowly poured the hot water from the flask into the mug, stirred it a bit and sipped. Then I noticed a protruded stomach, she had tried to cover it with her handbag. “Are you pregnant Ifeoma? you look it.” I asked in a soft tone. Her expression was in earnest. “Yes madam, didn’t pastor tell you? I am pregnant for him, we are expecting a child.” Her voice had a tremor in it, even though her face was bold and firm. Her words were like the score of a sharpened blade across my heart. I sensed the wound gape open even before she’d finished speaking. “You were sleeping with my husband while I was away?” “I am sorry madam, I think pastor is in...

That morning, my husband David came to pick me at the airport. He was dry faced and tensed, very unusual. Other times, David would be so excited to come pick me, he would kiss me and hug me passionately, but now, everything became different. “You kept me waiting for hours in there,” I said, gazing angrily at him. “Don’t tell me it’s traffic honey, today is Saturday.” “I am sorry, I had to pick the kids from summer lessons, and then rush to church to counsel a few couples.”He said soothingly. “You now prepare the kids for school, What happened to Ifeoma? She is the kid’s nanny.” “And you are the kids mom!” He screamed suddenly. “You’ve been away from your family for 5months Ekom, the kids don’t even talk about you anymore.” David deliberately slowed his breathing in a bid to calm himself down. I was silent for a while. My lips quivered, but David ignored that he saw tears glistening in my eyes. Catching his eyes as he tried to look at me, I sensed a shiver of unease goes ...

image source: Google Have you ever read in the Bible about the man with six fingers and six toes? I bet you haven't. Now, he was from the family of giants; probably between 7 feet (2.13cm) and 9 feet (2.72cm) in height. He fought many wars with the children of Israel. 2 SAMUEL 21:20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of  great  stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes , four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. Much hasn't been recorded of him in the Bible but we can find him being mentioned again in 1 Chronicles 20:6.  Scientifically, the unique condition he had is called polydactyly. According to Wikipedia, its defined: Polydactyly  or  polydactylism  (from  Greek   πολύς   (polys) , meaning 'many', and δάκτυλος (daktylos) , meaning 'finger'), [1]  also known as  hyperdactyly , is a  congenital physical anomaly  in humans  an...

                    First, read the 📖 BIBLE. Don't stick to one version of the Bible; use King James version, New international version, Good News version, Amplified version, etc Get an indept knowledge of Him personally. Secondly, read 📚 books authored by men of God. Like, David Oyedepo, Kenneth Copeland, Kathryn Kulman, Kenneth Haggin, Enoch Adeboye, Gloria Copeland etc. Thirdly, attend a Bible believing ⛪ church that preaches the true word of God and recognises Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Also get close to the Pastor and ask questions. Fourthly, Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and saviour and confess your sins and guilt to Him. For He is the way to God the Father. Finally, ask the help of the Holy Spirit. For he teaches, guides, directs etc. Make reading of the Word of God(Bible) become a daily, hourly habit and pray without ceasing.  Please know that, knowing God is more than believing in His exi...

Have you ever heard of the man with two faces? Am not talking about conjoined twins but two different faces on one head; one male and the other female. Such was the case of Edward Mordake (also Mordrake). History has it that he was born in the nineteenth century, an heir to an English nobility but had an extra face at the back of his head. Medical science could not diagnose his rare deformity; it was simply termed as a case of craniopagus parasiticus, a very serious form of parasitic twin , or a form of diprosopus . Edward was said to have asked his doctors to remove his other face but it was declined by his doctors. He ended up committing suicide at the age of 23. Here is Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine 's account of Edward. "One of the weirdest as well as the most melancholy stories of human deformity is that of Edward Mordake, said to have been heir to one of the noblest peerages in England. He never claimed the title, however, and committed suic...

The children of Israel were saved because they fixed their eyes on the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8-9) and those who didn't perished. The bronze serpent on the pole represents Jesus. He even spoke about it in John 3:14-15. So, fix your eyes on Jesus and you shall be saved. He is the way to getting all your needs met. For in Jesus, you have life in abundance. For in Jesus, you wake up everyday and you just smile knowing He is the reason for your smile. For in Jesus, you walk head up high knowing He is working something out in your favour. For in Jesus, even in the midst of the storm you know you will not be harmed nor broken. Hallelujah! Don't loose focus!

I was on the balcony of my apartment enjoying the evening breeze. The building which houses my apartment is two poles from the community junction. Watching the coming and goings. The street hawkers being patronized. A young woman with a baby, probably in her late 20's caught my attention; for she appeared to be worried,confused and tired. I wondered what seem to be her challenge. She stooped an okada man (a commercial motorcyclist), talked to him pleadingly but the man abruptly drove away. At this point,she was in tears;her baby began to cry. My attention was shifted to her appearance to at least know if she was mentally alright. She wore a pink skirt with a purple blouse, the white shoes she wore was torn on the fronts and sides, the turban on her head was dirty for she even removed it to wipe her baby's nose and placed it back on her head. Her nails were dirty with charcoal rubbed on her hands, the skirt and blouse on her body had black stains and she carried a ...