Papa. My first memory of you goes far back to when I was about 6 or 7 years old and I had a loose tooth that wouldn’t come off completely. When I showed you, you gave me a mango and said I could use it to nudge it off and that worked, and I think that’s why mangoes are my favourite fruit. Your life was exemplar as a man of God, full of love, and finding joy in the mundane. When I was sick, you spent hours and hours praying for me. You stepped in when my dad passed and my memory of you during that time in my life of you will never fade. You also always taught us about offense and how damaging it was, imploring us to not take things personally; to talk things out to those who we feel have wronged us, to always give the benefit of doubt. You never said an unkind word about or to someone. You loved music, always telling us to listen to music that encourages and uplifts the heart. You taught us to pray. Even after leaving Nigeria, you’d call and pray for each one of us, pray for the house we live in, covering every room with the blood of Jesus. Your faith was so unshakeable, even in things that we didn’t understand or couldn’t comprehend or thought silly. I know your prayers over my life will stay on forever, but I’ll miss talking to you every Saturday. Your legacy is unmatched and you’ll forever be in heart. I miss you so much but I take heart in knowing you are rested in the arms of the one who you spent your life serving. I love you forever.
“He taught me the importance of forgiveness.”
Faith Olarinde
Grandchild · Montreal, Canada