MEET MY BFFL (BEST FRIEND FOR LIFE)

Today, I want to celebrate a very special woman, a woman who is very close to my heart. If anyone asks me on campus, “Have you seen your beloved?” or “I saw your sister driving this way. Has she arrived?”, then know they are speaking of Grace Uka, my BFFL. I’m not doing this because it’s her birthday or anything like that. As I showed in the short story “An Anniversary Gift (Parts I and II),” you don’t need to wait for a special day to celebrate someone you love.

I met Grace in the early 1990s as my student. She had a fleeting fascination with Mass Communication and enrolled in our diploma programme but after doing most of the work, she abandoned the programme to concentrate on her Bachelor’s degree programme in History. She has since added a Masters degree to her CV and is a senior administrative staff at the University of Nigeria.

What attracted me to Grace was her warmth and strong faith in God. Over the years, I’ve learnt so much from her and some of that knowledge I’ve reflected in some of my writing. Grace lived in Aba before moving with her family to Nsukka. While there, she was groomed at the Living Word Ministries. Whenever we prayed together, I was fascinated by her approach of backing up her prayers with the scriptures. My meditation on this gave rise to the piece, “Bible Study Aids Prayer.” She’s the sister I referred to in “A Brand Snatched from the Fire” who helped me see the special meaning in a verse from the Book of Zechariah.

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Grace’s life is filled with astounding testimonies. I’ll take the liberty to share just one. From trusting God and declaring His promises, Grace is today the mother of a medical doctor, two engineers, a pharmacist and a food technologist. When you hear about a praying (and fasting) woman, about someone holding unto God when there is no material evidence of a headway, of faithfulness in the midst of leanness, you are hearing about my beloved.

Her faith has not only served her and her family, it has upheld me in my own trying times. On many occasions when I’ve been sick, she has cared for and prayed me out. Once I was under a spiritual siege, it was like I was losing my mind. Grace took me to her house and she began to feed me with the word of God like a baby. Ironically, I was the teacher of the teachers in our Sunday School then. Being one of the teachers, she began to remind me of the things I had taught them over the years and gradually, God used her to pull me out of the pit I was in.

I cannot and have no intention of sharing all that she has done for me. But I believe the Lord would have me share this much to encourage some people out there: Your labour of love will not be forgotten. Your travails over your children and others close to you will surely bear fruit. Grace’s testimonies did not come overnight. They took years and years of holding unto God and serving Him.

But like everyone of us, she still has challenges, mountains to cross, so much that she is believing God for. My joy is that she is growing in faith and in her knowledge of God. She is also very appreciative of what God has done so far.

Every time we meet, I learn something new, I am encouraged and built up in ways I didn’t anticipate. So I’m going to leave you with some things I learnt from her. She has said them so often around me that it’s now like they are inscribed on stone. These things are based on scripture but I’ll have you fish them out if you wish to.

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<> God will not leave Himself without a witness. Check your life if you are a believer. No matter what you are passing through, there must be something God has done or is doing to assure you that He is with you and that He will come through for you.

<> God hates robbery and iniquity. The programme of the devil against your life is to steal what God has lined up for you and he is relentless about it. But Jehovah abhors that and as you align yourself with Him, He will fight the robbers of your destiny.

<> God is a God of equity and fairness. He does not forget any of His own.

He says, “I have not told you to call upon me in vain. I will reward, yes, I will visit my faithful ones. I will avenge the wrongs done against them and I will heal their wounds.”

So, beautiful people, I hope that in introducing you to my BFFL, I have in some measure restored hope to you that your redeemer, her redeemer and my redeemer lives and He reigns in your circumstances if you have received Him into your life. May His name be praised forever from one end of the earth to the other in Jesus’ name.
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88 comments

  • Woah dis gud, ma u guys hve rily cum a lng way dis is jst d bst way to celebrate gud ppl kudos to u ma

  • What a beautiful tribute to your friend! She sounds like a truly remarkable woman. Not too many people would be written about and honored this way. God bless you both.

  • flawlex ifeanyi

    It can only be true friendship. Nice to see that.

  • Carol S Li

    Wow! What an amazing sister and God!

  • Ozor Chukwuebuka

    …”I hope that in introducing you to my BFFL, I have in some measure restored hope to you that your redeemer, her redeemer and my redeemer lives and He reigns in your circumstances if you have received Him into your life.”

    Words cannot tell how much embers of hope you have just fanned into flames in my life with this piece. May God bless you dear!

  • Joy

    Wow! Interesting. I love the piece Anty

  • Obetta Collins Odinakachukwu

    quite interesting

  • Akwolu Chiamaka MaryAnn

    True friendship is a great and beautiful thing. It’s always good having someone who is there for you when you need someone to lean on.

  • chidiogo Georginah

    Our people say in Igbo ezi oyi ka ajo nwanne-nma, truly not everyone can be credited with such good attributes. ma your friend has everything one would wish in a friend. God bless both of you.

  • Chike Chiemela Elizabeth

    Ma’am Grace is indeed a woman of honour. I suppose she also runs by principles. More grace to her

  • I pray that the Lord will give me strength as he gave to Mrs Grace Uka to live a life worthy of emulation notwithstanding the circumstances.

  • Ifechukwude Egbune

    It takes understanding to reach such stage in friendship and if I may add the grace of God also. Well done ma

  • Friends are good to have but when u have a friend with such qualities as mummy Grace, you are so blessed.my bbfl is my complete equation. Both of us gives you a perfect fraction.God bless you ma

  • Nneka Orjiude

    Amen, Once again ma you have spoken hope to me. I am presently going through a lot and going through your articles I am encouraged to keep trusting God. The artlicle was well articulated and interesting.Tnk U Ma and may you keep being a source of blessing in Jesus Name.Amen!!

  • Hephzibah

    I loved this!
    I also have a Bffl and that’s my sister. The beauty is we’re friends by choice. She’s helped me grow both physically and spiritually and for that I’m ever grateful.

  • Otegbulu juliet Amarachi

    Wow! Nice one. It feels so good to have a friend who impacts good things in our lives. Ma, may your friendship with Grace never die in Jesus name Amen!.

  • Kingsley Okafor

    Friends are good to have especially if you find the right one. More grace to her.
    Well done ma.

  • Ani Chidinma M

    The journey of life seems easy when surrounded with good friends.

  • Perpetua Ugwu

    God made you two bestfriends for a reason

  • Amos Janet

    Friendship is truly the best gift to mankind. I’m happy for you and your friend ma.

  • Ikwuakam Oluchi Francisca

    Some friends are really worth keeping for life. Mrs Grace is one of such friends. Be friends with people you know will positively influence and impact your life.

  • AKOGWU ANN CHIDIMMA

    This piece is motivating and it teaches that hard work pays as in the life of Grace who worked tirelessly and her hard work yielded her a good result. We should not forget to back our hard work up with prayers so that at the end victory will be ours.

  • ma, this is a great write up about your friend, mummy grace. she is truely a friend worthy of emulation. i think i could also want to be like her except am a guy. buh kudos to her, am inspired.

  • Nice, Ma. This your friend is indeed a gift from God, sent to u, because she has impacted so many things in your life.

  • It is good to trust and grow in the Lord as this brings us closer to him. Good friends are hard to come by and when they are found, they should be treasured.

  • uzor Victoria NKeiruka

    Some friends are really worth having especially when meet the right ones like the likes of Grace whom you can learn things from and also share the word of God with.. Your BFFL is really a nice woman, ma.

  • awww wonderful friend you got there ma. I think we need a BFFL in our life. Someone we can always count on. Though i’m also proud to say i have one; My mum.

  • Ndieze Kelechi precious

    What a friend worth having…healthy friendship plays a vital role in one’s life.

  • Victoria Nonike

    this article makes me feel like i have known your bestie for long time ma. this friendship is a divine one, God bless you both ma.

  • Best friends are rare to find, when we get one we hold on to them LIKE we are gone loose them

  • Chika Divine Umunnakwe

    Thank God i read this piece. i have almost left the surface to getting deep. I found myself meditating the word hear and thinking about our redeemer. I asked myself where i can find such a friend and when will be such a friend to someone who need it. She is indeed a best friend that is rare. GOD must continue to reward her for her responsibilities, character and trust in Him. Her good work in the lives of others will always be rewarded by the maker. We only have to tap from her and learn to appreciate God in all times while trusting Him in good and bad times knowing He will not leave us without a witness nor forsake us. For HE will fight for us and heal our wounds always.

  • Amarachi Deborah Ugwu

    Waoohh your relationship with her has really lasted, God keep blessing and showering her with favour. May he also bless and keep your relationship with her. Grace shall always follow her like her name.

  • ibemma Ginikachukwu

    We must all learn to make friends that will impact positively in us and we impacting positively in them and not keeping friends for benefit. I love this piece because it is good to praise people and commend them when they have done something good.

  • Ugwuanyi Cyprian Fulton Tochi

    A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)
    Having a good friend is for me one of the best gift from God because that your friend will always lure you back to God especially when temptation had come to conquer you.
    It’s a grace from God for someone to have such a God-fearing and good friend.
    May almighty God continue to bless our two sisters in Christ Jesus who had been sticked closer as blood sisters

  • Ndudu John

    A friend that sticketh closer than a “sister” in your own case. True friendship is valuable.

  • Aniah favour Adaeze

    Some friends are really God sent, source of inspiration.
    I thank God he brought her your way.

  • Afiadigwe Nnedinso Rita

    Mmmm,my Lecturer is such an amazing writer. A good friend is inspirational,educative,loving and understanding. Mrs Grace is a good example.I pray that I always encounter this kind of friend. Well done ma.

  • Orji blessing chidubem

    You can say this is a pact made in heaven…I love the way you two look out for each other,not too many people do that in the world of today and I hope one day,I would be able to impact positivity in someone else’s life just like you.

  • Agwu Tochukwu Frank

    Wow! This is a captivating story.
    Mrs Grace is indeed a virtuous woman.
    No wonder the Bible says in Prov. 14:1 “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands”.
    Her like pattern is worthy of emulation by all women in our various homes.
    Thanks ma, for the wonderful job you are doing.

  • friendships that builds. am taking to heart the first quote ‘God will not leave Himself without a witness’. thanks ma for sharing

  • Joan chikadibia Eze

    Indeed..she is a virtuous woman. Due to her steadfastness in prayers, she has achieved so much in life. God rewards people according to their works on earth.

  • AKUPUE Vincent

    Grace is a motivational woman. It’s something good to have someone that reminds you of God’s promises that is forging ahead. To hold onto your faith in the time of troubles and crisis isn’t an easy task to perform. Seeing someone that made my model (Aunty Edith) an extraordinary woman whom I always longed to emulate from is something astonish to me.

  • Achugwo Larissa

    Awwn! This is so nice. It’s good to appreciate the people that add meaning to our lives. It shows how much they mean to us. Little gestures like this bring joy and strengthen relationships.

  • Abugu faith Chinecherem

    For you to have written all this about her, it means that she truly means a lot to you.

  • ikebudu juanita

    A good friendship is one where the parties involved sacrifice for each other,what a good friendship!

  • Isaac sopuruchi

    Good friends are hard to find,they are always there for you both the good and bad times.f or you to have written this kind of post means that you value your relation with her and you are proud of her.i must confess I envy you both

  • Ejiofor Emmanuel

    I admire your friendship. It is rare. A friend is someone who cares and is ready to help in any circumstances. God bless you both

  • egbo Rita Somtochukwu

    This is the kind of friendship I admire, the one always ready to help you in any problem, the one who is selfless and sees everyone as equal, the ones who is there through thick and thin, the one who is accessible anytime any day and mostly the one who has a genuine relationship with God and faith in word and tries to bring you to the same realm of grace she has. God bless the both of you and keep you glued up together. Happy belated birthday Mummy Grace.

  • Ugama Gloria Nkechinyere

    Am jealous here; have tried so hard to have someone to call my best friend but all to no avail as the ones I tried having cannot be trusted. Hopefully I will have one someday. Nice one MA.

  • Theophilus Blessing

    Hmmm, God has really blessed your BFFL with children with wonderful careers and I pray that your friendship continue till forever.

  • Nkpozi miracle

    You are blessed to have such an amazing friend but she is more blessed to have you too .

  • Ezidimma odinakachukwu oluchukwu

    Wow you sure have a best friend for life ma!
    I have learned that celebrating a friend must not be on their birthdays or their special days. Good friends are hard to find but when found they are the best. I hope to be a good friend and help my friends both in spiritual and physical needs… So help me God amen ✨?

  • Brown Favour Felix

    Mma everything you are saying and even more about our mummy is very true. I was very happy when I click this post and I saw her picture. Indeed she is a woman of great Faith the mother of The Apostolic Church, Obukpa District, she a woman that her smile alone makes you smile, she never gives up even in mist of challenges. Even when her daughter had the issue of child bearing she never complained, but pray, praise and danced as never to her God mighty who she believes can do all things. I am so happy identifying with this loving family, her daughter Amarachi is always my role model, she teaches me a lot and on my birthday she didn’t forget to buy a gift I never expected. They are just good, because they have a good mother who is your friend. I pray may God give us foresight in believing in him despite what we are going through.

    Thanks mma for celebrate you friend, our gracious mother.

    God bless you mma.

  • Brown Favour Felix

    Mma everything you are saying and even more about our mummy is very true. I was very happy when I click this post and I saw her picture. Indeed she is a woman of great Faith the mother of The Apostolic Church, Obukpa District, she is a woman that her smile alone makes you smile, she never gives up even in the mist of challenges. Even when her daughter had the issue of child bearing, she never complained, but pray, praise and danced as never to her God mighty who she believes can do all things. I am so happy identifying with this loving family, her daughter Amarachi is always my role model, she teaches me a lot and on my birthday she didn’t forget to buy a gift I never expected. They are just good, because they have a good mother who is your friend. I pray may God give foresight in believing in him despite what we are going through.

    Thanks mma for celebrate you friend, our gracious mother.

    God bless you mma.

  • Thomas Rebecca Ina

    By just reading about this piece, your live has challenged me.
    The world needs more of your kind
    More grace to you ma
    Aunty Edith, you have a wonderful friend.
    Many more years of friendship to you two.
    I wish I’ll get a BFFL too

  • It is always good to keep God fearing people who will impact knowledge and good things in you life as friends not wayward ones who will influence you negatively. Good friends are hard to find am happy for you ma for having such a God fearing woman who you learn a lot from . Someone you call a good friend should be able to sacrifice for you in all circumstances. God bless and keep you both together . Thank you ma for this inspirational post and for making me know what a true friendship entails.

  • Nwosu Victoria

    it is always a good thing to have that one friend who is even more than a sibling to you whom you can learn so much from. i am happy about this friendship and i pray it continues ;like this up until a very good old age.

  • Okoli Ezinne

    Wow, Ma you really have an angel as a friend.
    Sometimes good friends are like backbone.

  • IKECHEBELU GINIKA

    I so much believe that a person’s choice of friends can either make or mar him.
    If you make a right choice when choosing a friend, such friend will no doubt change or improve your life positively, except you as a person is rebellious to change.

  • Ominaki pamela

    Friends are supposed to build and add positive things to your life and not negative things. This woman is worth emulating in everyway, she is the epitome of a faithful Christian and God rewarded her steadfastness and faithfulness

  • Aroh Cynthia Chioma

    If is possible for me to snatch this your Bffl from you Ma, I would be happy. Lol!
    I love friends that draws me closer to God with prayers and advice. Many more years of friendship to you two.
    I love you Ma!

  • ugwu lilian

    I too admire your friendship with Mrs Grace. May God bless you both and continue to keep you both in spirit ad faith.

  • Anabude oluchi

    Truely an amazing sister MA! and they always stand by you no matter the circumstance and such friends are blessing to humanity,and may God continue to strengthen you also in your motivational write ups that has been a blessing to my life

  • Uzoma chidera

    Who do you call a best friend? Someone who will compromise things just to make you feel comfortable and happy, someone who prays and intercedes for you, someone who encourages you and keeps good company with you and also ride with you. That’s all in see in this post she is really a best friend. I pray that the both of you keep this friendship strong and keep the fire burning, God bless Her Amen.

  • Richards Orighomisan

    Hmmmm, mummy what attracted you to her was her strong faith in God, that’s wonderful, the bible really said iron sharpens iron indeed.
    Biko for youth out there if your friend does not add anything meaningful to your life, I wonder what you are still doing with that person you. There’s this scary statistics that says “the ten closest people to you now will determine how your life will look like in the next ten years” if this is really true, be wise in choosing your friends. I hope someday I will be celebrated like this, as one who has made impact, not just one who has come to draw.

  • Idika Uloma Sophia

    Indeed, it’s friends for life both of you has come a long way.truly not everyone can be credited with such good attributes. ma’am your friend has everything one would wish in a friend. May heavenly father continue to bless both of you, Amen.

  • Nwankwo Amanda

    Omggg, she’s so beautiful !!! You both have really come a very long way.
    I pray God keeps the friendship for life.
    It’s good to know that there’s always that one person you can call a friend and boast about.

  • Macaulay Tekevwe

    Thanks ma for sharing. The importance of having a good Christian friend cannot be overemphasized.

  • Ahueze Vivian Isioma

    This is Inspiring, friends like this are scarce.
    Thanks Ma for this wonderful Piece.
    God Bless 🙏😇

  • Assumpta Anachu

    It’s great to have friends that impact us positive ways and sincerely want the best for us

  • Ezeagu Chidinma Annastacia

    I’m so touched by this,and I’m sure your BFFL will be touched too. Good friends are hard to come by,not just good by character but also good in the spiritual and academical aspect. We all pray to have good friends just like yours,but I think we should also pray for the grace to be a good friend and good influence to others. In this “woke” generation,coming across good people is rare and I pray God opens our eyes to see those that are good for us,amen.

  • NWODO MARYANN KOSISOCHUKWU

    This is so lovely,I pray that God will bless and keep the friendship.

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