Over the years, I’ve received priceless handcrafted creations from my daughter. Since she was 2, I’ve responded with great enthusiasm, given her mommy squeezes and then admired the prizes. Most of the time, I instantly see her intent and smile into the rest of my day, proud of both the creator and the masterpiece. […]
By Esih Efuru I’ve always marveled at nature, at how grass grows in abundance, how flowers bloom without incident and how the elements command the universe. I’m even more amazed at how God’s creatures navigate the earth, never concerned about fate or famine, seemingly sure that they are worth being cared for. I’m reminded of […]
By Esih Efuru The spring is my favorite holiday for a number of reasons. In addition to celebrating my birthday, I look forward to…
By Esih Efuru As I walked my daughter to her bus stop this morning, my mind and heart heavy with wonder, I happened to look up at the emerging sun. The pale blue sky was painted with beautiful streaks of red, with the crescent moon resting above. My eyes rested there, but then caught a […]
By Esih Efuru During a recent trip back home, I strolled through the train station, admiring the vendors and the familiar wave of hasty pedestrians. As I entered the waiting room, a heaviness gripped me that I couldn’t shake. I blinked, and then paused to gather myself. Then it hit me. I went back inside […]
By Esih Efuru I was very excited about my 13th birthday, praying for lots of presents and a chance to be seen as more than the resident bookworm. As I got dressed for my party, I dreamt about my reaction to the gifts and guests, all while enjoying two-layer party cake and cherry Kool-Aid. It […]
By Esih Efuru When I first entered my Creative Writing Master’s program, I wanted to tell the story of how power is used to take advantage of the weak. I was determined to expose social and cultural ills; I was ready to show no mercy. At the heart of my thesis project was my own […]
I had to participate in “scripture showers” as a preacher’s kid, where you were required to recite scripture on demand. Someone always beat me to “Jesus wept” (the shortest verse in the bible), so I’d recite the 23rd Psalms. I had no idea that I’d live that powerful word several times overs later in my […]
By Esih Efuru As a preacher’s kid, life had its moments to remember. I loved to hear the familiar songs and mantras coming from various pulpits and tents. I needed to believe the words I heard; I needed to hold on to the hope. It was the only thing that hadn’t been taken from me. […]
By Esih Efuru As a parent, you pray for, think about and worry over your children every day. You poke and prod at them to make sure they have what they need. Most of the time it annoys them, but deep down inside, they know you mean well. There are also moments when children need […]
By Esih Efuru I’ve had a lot of colorful adventures on my journey. Some were cartoon strips, like the humor I had to find within the pain of trauma, and others were Oscar winning sagas, like surviving a dysfunctional childhood, and watching cancer take out a third of my family in a five-year-period. Life for […]
When I was young, a cartoon ran on Saturday mornings called the “Superfriends”. The twin super heroes would shout: “Wonder twin powers: Activate!” Their powers would then take different forms as they set out to claim victory. Imagine calling forth power and allowing it to travel in different forms on your path to victory. While […]
