A Friend Indeed

Our story began on the Newham Leisure Centre Bridge – I didn’t realise then what a great impact Anike would have on my life. I attribute a lot of my educational achievement, standards and spiritual growth to this friend. Halfway through secondary school, Anike and I both dedicated our lives to Christ through afterschool bible studies at her grandmother’s house. The bible was so fresh and new to us and we often spent most of our time reading and sharing scripture with each other.



Anike

When secondary school came to an end college, work and other commitments put some distance between us, we hardly saw each other or spoke on the phone. However in retrospect I’ve realised that even during that time of “distance” Anike was still there. She was in the front row at my baptism, she did a special prayer for me at my 18^th birthday celebration and visited me a number of times during university. Time and distance may have tried to interfere with our friendship however God made sure to sustain it. It’s such a blessing to have a friendship that is solely based on God and I believe that God has truly blessed, as we are even closer now in adulthood.

Anike's first visit to my university 2007/2008

Anike, you have been a friend amongst friends and much more! You have been my big sister, my wise counsellor, my prayer partner, my listening ear, my voice of reason, my shoulder to cry on, my chef (girl, I’ve always loved your cooking) , my reality checker, my relationship advisor, my challenger, my motivator…my love.

Anike 2010

During these 25 years you have been an inspiration and a loving heart to many. You have imparted wisdom and been an encouragement to those closest to you. You have been committed to God and have used your gifts and talents to glorify Him. They say, show me your friend and I’ll show you who you are - If I am anything like this friend of mine, I owe it all to God for allowing our paths to meet. 

Happy Birthday Anike, may God continue to make your love and influence even more far reaching; you truly have been a friend…indeed! 

Anike and I - May 2008

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥

Everything is Nothing

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, ….Philippians 3:7-9

Everything is nothing?

My mind can’t fathom this? Whose mind can comprehend this?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2: 5

For the salvation of the human soul everything became nothing.

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

In yielding all, even life itself – to us, Christ became everything.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Philippians 2:9-10

The Lesson: Until I see everything else as nothing, Christ is not everything.

That I may win Christ, and be found in him*

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥



*Photograph: David Mansell

A friend loveth at all times

Have you ever had a friend that loves at all times? Someone whose heart is compassionate towards you? Someone who takes your pain as their own? Someone whose love knows no dormant season? Do you have a friend like this? I do.

Julina and I were convinced that we were going to be future sister-in-laws and that was the beginning of our friendship. We never did become sister -in-laws but instead God knitted our hearts so closely together that we become real sisters.

March 2008

The last years of my teenage life was spent in Julina’s company. I can honestly say that she has taught me a lot about how to be a woman and how to run a home. She encouraged my young faith and taught me how to humble my heart when in conflict with others  and how to love God and stay true to him. I’ll never forget the night when I witnessed Julina encourage a young lady who wanted to give up on God, she spoke with such boldness and conviction and her words were definitely not her own. She used her own experience to encourage this girl and I too was encouraged and challenged by her words.

On this day, your birthday, I pray that God will increase your love for him. I pray that he will strengthen you in your role as a mother and a wife. Hold fast and stay true to the principles that God has shown you, keep laughing and smiling - never lose or compromise those unique characteristics.

May 2009

I’m so thankful for your sisterhood and the way you encourage me to relax and “let my hair down” when I am being too serious. I’m so thankful for your kind and caring nature. As the years go by I pray that, though far apart, our hearts may continue to be tightly bound. Julina,  I love and appreciate you and I pray that I can be the kind of friend to you that you have been to me – A friend that loveth at all time.

Happy Birthday Julina xxx

Wales 2013

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥