From Gori to Glory!

 Gori, Gori, Gori!! That was all I ever heard growing up. It was so bad, I almost forgot my name was Serah because once someone heard that name; it seemed to stick to their tongues like glue.

In Nigeria, we sort of have a custom where after a woman gives birth, a family member, friend or neighbor comes to help bath the newborn. In my case, the first person to come was a Yoruba neighbor. As soon as my mom handed me over to her and she stripped me for my bath, she burst out laughing and exclaiming “Ah! Madam, so na Gorimakpa you born!” that was the end of the matter. My mom shared the story with everyone and the rest as I aforementioned was history (Gori, for those who don’t know, is the short form for Gorimakpa which means someone bald).

God being merciful to me, He later gave me hair (for those of you wondering) but for the longest time, I was always conscious of my hair and never wanted people to see it. Since this issue had dealt with me growing up, I was determined to ensure that my kids never encountered the same and so, amongst all the other things I asked for in the man I would marry, I prayed for hair for my husband and my children especially, the girls.

While some people would wonder why I would keep praying about such a ‘ inconsequential thing’, for me, it was really important and as a child, my mother taught us to pray about everything so prayer meeting in my house was a fun one to behold people prayed and asked for prayers for all sorts: acne leaving, bigger bum, better grades whatever the issue, we were ready and willing to pray about it and with time, we saw the results as such, I was resolute with my prayers for my daughters.

Fast forward to 2014, I had met my prince charming and he was Fulani by tribe, In Nigeria, the Fulani’s are known to have beautiful hair and so I felt God had answered my prayers and given me extra. A few months into the marriage, I found out I was pregnant and I was thrilled about it especially when I heard it was a girl. That had always been my lifelong dream. We started making our plans and I bought as many ribbons, bows, hair ruffles you name it, we were having a baby girl and she was going to have that rich, fine Fulani hair at least, so I thought.

Behold 22nd of September, my bundle of joy was born and as soon as she popped out (she came out like a shot gun), the first question I asked my sister was ‘does she have hair?’ (Forgive my vanity). From the look on her face and that of my aunt, I knew it was not as I imagined and prayed. I took one look at her and there she was,  with thin strands of fine hair.

As the years went by, I tried almost anything and everything to see that hair grow but it seemed to fall out even more. People would often ask me why I had cut her hair or if I had and I would tell them that she had a ‘natural/heavenly ‘haircut. My husband had warned me not to make a fuss over the matter because to him, it didn’t matter much and he knew it would eventually grow . I occasionally accused, teased and blamed him for not praying for hair when I had been telling him to pray for the child and I kept tabling the matter before God and my care group members.

As the years went by, the hair began to grow slowly. For every time I saw change, I went back to say thank you.

Just before the lockdown started, a colleague and I were discussing and I mentioned how Nailah had packed her hair, She could not believe it and laughed at the impossibility and so that weekend, I loosed her hair to make it and remembered my colleague’s remark and so I decided to take a picture of Nailah’s  hair.

I was about to send the picture when I realized that Nailah had a full head of hair now in comparison to some of her younger pictures where she almost looked bald with big bows on her head. It was then; I realized that though it had taken time, God had answered my prayers and that of all others who had joined me in praying for my daughter. 

I sent a ‘before and after’ picture to my plenty prayer partners to show them that God had answered and her proprietress said ‘imagine how we worry over things? When God is already working them out!” we had a good laugh but it was true.

Every time I loosen Nailah’s hair to make it, it reminds me that there is not one thing that we cannot talk or tell God about. If it bothers us enough, then it is worth talking to him about it because he is always willing to hear anything we have to say.

I can confirm this to you because as a parent, there is nothing my kids have to say that I am not willing to listen to. I do not tell them to speak to me only on things that pertain to their academics or health; No, I want to hear it all. I listen to their blabbing and babbling when they were learning how to talk, I listen to them when they tell me about what happened at school, what they want to be, their likes, dislikes and anything that interests or bothers them. I do that because I love them and they are my children.

God is a way better father and that is the first characteristic or name he wants us to know him as and refer to him as because every other name and quality of him that we love and call upon is embedded in that one name, Father!! That is why when the disciple first asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He started by saying “when you pray, start by saying ‘our Father….’ (Mat 6:9)

I do not know what is bothering you, keeping you up at night or causing you anxiety and pain but one thing I do know, is that you have a loving heavenly father who loves you and wants to hear everything you have to say to him. There are no restrictions with him so do not restrict nor limit yourself and whatever you do, do not call me ‘Gori!’ if we meet or else….

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