When God decides to remember you.

Do you often feel sad, or cry whenever it seems your mates are doing well, and you're not? Please, don't be too hard on yourself.

Earlier this afternoon, I encountered an old friend while waiting for a bus at Ogui road. I had lost his contact after my phone was stolen two years ago. Chima was a friend I made while pursuing my Msc in Architecture, at the University of Nigeria.

He was pursuing his Msc in Architecture at ESUT. We encountered in a studio where I came to direct the recording of someone's song, and he was the Saxophonist that day. When we found out that we were potential Architects with love for music, we became friends.

I just recalled the many times he visited me, and how he was extremely struggling to study. Most times, he had no money to print his drawings for presentation. Most times, he would call to ask if he could come over and burn fuel with me, for sleep will always be far from Architectural students. We're always awake, trying to meet up with the design presentation dates, otherwise you'll be considered unqualified to be in the department.

Sometimes, he would just come to empty my small freezer. I understood how things were for him, and I never complained because I could afford to restock the freezer. Sometimes, he would make for my kitchen, and take some food items.

I met him sad one day, and when I asked him why, his response was this:
"Architect, things are going well for you. Does God hate me?"

Chima was depressed most times, but I made him understand that it was grace. "I don't think you offended God," I once told him. "Just ask God to remember you, " I remember telling him in one of those occasions. Sometimes, when I'm dropping him, he would sleep because of the AC, and wouldn't know when we arrived at his hostel. And when I wake him up, he'll remind me of how sad he feels going back to his hostel.

His roommate makes life unbearable for him, because he was being accommodated by the guy, and was yet to pay half of the rent as was agreed, before being accommodated. On one of those occasions, I transferred 70k to him, so he could pay the young man and have peace. He cried that day -- it was really tears of joy for him. I remember paying one of his tuition fees then. There were times I had to save him from depression, and I can't really recall everything now.

So, you can imagine my surprise when a black "Avalon Ship" parked beside me today, only for chima to jump out shouting "my own person!" "I must go to your direction today," he said, urging me to enter for a lift.

He asked what happened to my car, and I told him how unfair life has been in recent times. I told him I sold it to support family, in my brother's health. He knows it was the second car I was selling. He knew about my late brother Bryan, and spoke with him on phone the days he called me. He felt really bad hearing that the boy who will always tell him to "give the phone to brother A," is no longer alive.

Told him the third car was at the mechanic, and that I couldn't sell it that time, because it was an American Spec that needed something to be changed in it before selling. "I couldn't afford replacing that, so I parked it for now," I told him.
"You don't mean this!" he exclaimed. He was shocked, and was obviously surprised seeing the young man he saw as motivation, in a bad state. I dialed 919# of UBA mobile banking, so he could see my account balance. "Sht!" he screamed, and began to understand how real I was in my conversations with him.

"I'm happy God has remembered you Chi," I told him.
"It's God o -- las las, he no hate me," he said.
"One client jus enter Real Estate, and na me he dey use for all his buildings," he said.

He parked somewhere to show me pictures of their ongoing project, and ended it with "God is good."
Then, he began to pray for me inside the car. "A, God will remember you again," he kept saying at the end of each particular plea. While he prayed for me, I remembered the days he would tell me that my 6am morning prayers were worthless. I told him I cannot take God's glory for the things he was doing for me, and that it behoves me to praise him every morning.

He also prayed for my 26 years old brother -- a sickle cell patient -- whose health isn't too strong at the moment. I smiled, knowing that Chima now gives God his glory.

"I'm getting married by January next year -- I go feel so happy if you go be my best man," he added.
"I'll think about it Chi," I said to him.

We had subsequent conversations while he furthered his driving towards my destination, and when he dropped me around Agbani road, he said "I'll see you when they pay us."

I alighted from his car, feeling happy that God has remembered him.
I don't know who I am talking to right now, but you should know that there is no permanent condition, unless you're not trying.

You don't need to be hard on yourself when things are not falling in line for you the way they are for others. I guess Chima understands this now.
Provided you're trying;
God will remember you.