Lesson from My 15-Year-Old Nephew

 

Sometimes, life teaches us lessons in the most unexpected ways—and sometimes, those lessons come from the younger ones we think we’re supposed to be teaching.

My 15-year-old nephew used to be overweight. At just 14 years old, he decided he didn’t want to stay that way. I was curious, so I asked him what he did. His answer was so simple, yet so powerful.

He told me he made two decisions:

1. Walk 10,000 steps every single day.
2. Stop eating at 6PM.

That’s it. No fad diet. No complicated workout plan. No expensive gym membership.

He walked every single day, making sure he hit those 10,000 steps. And when the clock struck 6PM, he was done eating for the day—no matter what. He stayed consistent, and before long, he lost 50 pounds.

Now, he’s lighter, healthier, and happier. Walking has become a natural part of his life. He looks amazing and feels even better.

When I was visiting him recently in London, we worked out together and even walked those 10,000 steps a few times. And let me tell you—he inspired me. If a teenager can make that decision, stick to it, and transform his life, then anyone can.

So, to you reading this right now: is there a change you’ve been wanting to make? Have you been hesitating, scared to take that first step? Let this be your sign—start now. Face that fear. Begin today.

As you stay consistent, you will achieve your goal. Don’t let fear or the judgment of others keep you from good health, freedom, or whatever your heart desires.

Let my nephew’s story be your inspiration. Get up and get going—there’s greatness waiting for you on the other side of your first step!

Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

With love,

Maryam 💛

Trusting God Through the Struggle

It’s easy to have faith when everything is smooth, when life is good, and things seem to be falling perfectly into place. But would faith truly be faith if it never had to stand the test of trials? Would hope be hope if there were no challenges that required us to hope for a better outcome or to believe in a power greater than ourselves?

The truth is, life will give us moments that leave us scratching our heads, wondering how we’ll make it through. There will be seasons where the answers don’t come easily and the road ahead feels uncertain. And it is in these very moments that we are invited to trust—not in our own strength, wisdom, or ability, but in the One who sees the beginning from the end.

If we had all the answers, we wouldn’t need God. But thank God for the struggles that remind us we do need Him. I believe our faith is refined in the fire, strengthened in the struggle, and our battles are won when we choose to place them in God’s hands.

No matter what you’re going through today, I want to encourage you—trust God with it. Even if doubt tries to creep in, trust Him anyway. Even if the situation seems impossible, trust Him in the middle of it. And be open to seeing how He will show up for you in ways you never expected.

The Bible tells us, “Those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). So today, I call on the Lord with you while I write these words:

Lord, we trust You. We place every struggle, fear, and challenge into Your hands. We ask for supernatural breakthroughs in our lives and situations. Show Yourself mighty in our stories. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hold on, dear friend. Your story is still being written, and with God as the Author, the ending will be victorious.

Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

With love,

Maryam ❤️

Our Baby Laila Turns 6 Months – A Heart Full of Gratitude

 Oh, how time flies!

Just like that, our sweet baby Laila is 6 months old! I can hardly believe it. It feels like only yesterday I was holding her for the very first time—so tiny, so beautiful, and so full of promise. And now, here she is—growing, thriving, giggling, exploring, and blessing our lives in the most beautiful ways.

From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say: Thank You, Lord.

Thank You for sustaining us, for preserving us, and for surrounding us with Your goodness. Thank You for keeping Laila healthy, strong, and full of life. She’s truly a gift—a brilliant little light in our lives. I may be biased (haha!), but she’s already showing signs of being a genius! 💛

Watching her smile, babble, roll over, and reach out for the world has been such a joy. She’s filled our hearts and home with a kind of happiness that can only come from Heaven. And for this, we are forever grateful to God.

To everyone reading this, whether you’re a parent, a parent-to-be, or someone still praying and hoping—I want to pause here and speak from my heart.

If you are waiting on God for the gift of a child,

I pray for you today.

May the Lord bless you with a healthy, beautiful baby of your own.

May your arms soon be full and your heart overflow with joy.

May your home ring with the sweet sound of laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.

To all the mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, and those who love and care for little ones—hold them close. Celebrate the moments, big and small. And never forget to give thanks to the One who makes it all possible.

Here’s to baby Laila and to the many miracles yet to come. 💕

With joy and gratitude,

Maryam

Victory and Joy: Congratulations to the Nigerian Women’s Soccer Team!

 

Oh, what a moment of pure joy and pride for Nigeria! 🎉

Huge congratulations to our incredible Nigerian Women’s Soccer Team for winning the African Cup Championship! What a stunning display of strength, teamwork, perseverance, and true Nigerian spirit. You didn’t just win a trophy—you won our hearts and reminded us of what it means to stand tall and proud.

Watching our Super Falcons lift that cup high brought a sense of unity, celebration, and laughter to every corner of the country. It gave us something to cheer for. In a time where many Nigerians are waking up daily to real and painful struggles—rising costs, economic hardship, and uncertainty—this victory felt like a much-needed break in the clouds. For a moment, we all smiled. We all celebrated. We danced, waved our flags, and felt something priceless: hope.

I am so incredibly proud of these amazing women. They carried not just the ball across the field but the hopes of an entire nation on their shoulders—and they delivered.

My prayer is that just as they have brought home victory, God in His mercy will bring a wave of transformation across Nigeria. May the Lord Jesus bring a remarkable change in our economy—one that brings relief, restoration, and abundance to every struggling home and every tired heart. May joy no longer be a rare visitor, but a daily companion in the lives of all Nigerians.

So wherever you are reading this from, whether you’re in Nigeria or abroad, celebrate this victory. Hold on to this joy.

And remember this one thing:

Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

With love,

Maryam 💛

The Plantain Miracle 🍌✨

 I have to share this little story with you all because it truly made me laugh—and think deeply too.

So, I had just finished making a delicious pot of Nigerian beans porridge (if you know, you know 👩🏽‍🍳). And what pairs perfectly with beans porridge? Yep—fried plantains! Sweet, crispy, golden plantains on the side make the whole dish come alive.

Now, here’s the thing… I didn’t have any plantains—at least I thought I didn’t. I was mentally preparing myself to head to the store to get some, even though it was such bad timing. I had so many other things to do and honestly, the thought of another errand felt exhausting.

But then I remembered I had some sweet potatoes I bought recently that were just sitting there waiting to be used. “Okay,” I thought, “I’ll just go with the sweet potatoes this time.”

I almost settled.

And that’s when it happened.

I reached into the cupboard where I thought my sweetman might’ve stored the sweet potatoes—and guess what I found?

A whole bag of PLANTAINS staring right back at me! 😱🍌🎉

I couldn’t stop laughing! I was so happy! I almost missed it—the very thing I truly wanted was already in my house, already provided, already mine. I just didn’t know it.

That’s when God whispered to my heart:

“How many times have you settled because you didn’t realize I had already provided what you were truly longing for?”

Whew! That one hit deep.

It made me wonder—how many “plantains” have we all given up on, simply because we didn’t see them yet? How many blessings, answers, breakthroughs, or dreams are already within reach, waiting on the other side of obedience, or in the midst of us simply taking a step?

I believe God is always working behind the scenes for us. But often, He invites us to move—to take a step, even if it’s just toward the “sweet potatoes.” And sometimes, in the act of moving forward, we stumble upon the very thing we were praying for all along.

This little miracle reminded me of this truth:

🧡 Sometimes, the miracle is already in the house.

🧡 Sometimes, it shows up when we stop striving and start trusting.

🧡 Sometimes, what we think is “settling” becomes the doorway to discovering God’s best.

So here’s my prayer for you today:

May you not settle for less than God wants to give you.

May God open your eyes to the blessings already around you.

And may every step you take, even the small ones, lead you right into His provision and perfect plan.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 🙏🏽

And don’t worry—those plantains got fried, golden and glorious, and that beans porridge? Let’s just say it was a testimony on a plate. 😉

With love and joy,

Maryam 💛