Called to Priesthood

Growing up, I always felt way bigger and older than my actual age. I was a bit tall, super self-conscious, and literally my own worst critic. “Too tall,” “too this,” “too that”—you name it, I picked myself apart for it! I never really felt beautiful back then, and honestly? As a teenager, I used to lie about my age just because I felt like I was supposed to match whatever older version of me people saw in their heads.

Even a few weeks ago, as 30 started creeping up on me, this silly little thought popped into my head: “Maybe I just shouldn’t mention my age when posting my pictures on social media or my blog post? What if people say, ‘Wait, you’re JUST turning 30?! I thought you were older!’” 🙈

But you know what? NOPE! We are throwing that thought in the bin! 🗑️

Because I am genuinely, deeply glad to be turning 30 today.

Through Christ, I’ve finally come to know my actual worth. Not based on how tall I am, not based on what people think, and definitely not based on the world’s beauty standards! In fact, over the past couple of months—with SO much love and encouragement from my amazing husband—I’ve been actively challenging the beauty standards I carried for years. As a Nigerian woman, there are so many rigid expectations around how we “should” look, but I’ve been learning to fully embrace my natural Afro hair and unlearn all those outdated rules! 💇🏾‍♀️✨ It has been such a freeing, empowering journey to just love the way God created me. Not saying it’s bad to want to wear a wig or get extensions once in a while but we should not base our beauty value on a wig or extension! I’m challenging myself to eventually do away with the wigs! I would let you all know how that’s going soon, just waiting for my hair to grow out more a bit!

And looking back, especially at the last six years? Wow. The last half of this past decade has tested me, stretched me, and grown me in ways I never saw coming!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

It definitely hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. The heavy stuff was really heavy. Living with mental health conditions—specifically religious OCD and harm OCD—has been one of the toughest battles of my life. (If you know, you know! I have written a couple blog posts about my mental health struggles, click here to read it) It forced me to learn so much about grace and real vulnerability. Then losing my sweet mum… that’s a heartbreak that leaves a space nothing else can ever fill. Add two surgeries on top of all that, and yeah, my body and mind have been through it!

BUT GOD! 🙌🏾

Because right alongside the hardest seasons, He poured out so much goodness and so many absolute miracles:

I got to marry the literal love of my life! (Still pinching myself sometimes! 🥰) I am super thankful to God for my marriage and how God has brought us this far. Yes, we have had our ups and downs as any marriage does but we are learning and growing more in love with each other.

I became a first-time mum to the most amazing, hilarious, beautiful little girl! Being her mummy is my favorite thing ever. She is growing up so fast and she is absolutely adorable!

We moved to a whole new country! Talk about a shift—new culture, new environment, and don’t even get me started on the weather! 😂 Moving to a new country was a whole reset. Learning how to navigate a completely different culture, food, accent, and let’s be real—trying to survive the dark 4PM winter afternoons! 🥶

I landed a job at a company that actually shares my values, and not only that, I’m actually thriving there!

I officially took up painting! 🎨 I have always loved painting and admired it from afar, so to finally pick up those brushes and actually start painting myself has been pure joy for my soul!

We’ve been traveling, exploring new places, and making wonderful friends! Funny how I found it easier to make friends now that I’m older.

And honestly, maybe the biggest shift of all has been my faith journey. Growing up in a super religious Christian household in Nigeria, culture and religion were so mixed together that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Deconstructing mainstream views of Nigerian Christianity and unlearning all that fear-based stuff has been a lot… I have been relearning and unlearning…. but it brought me to the sweetest place: actually understanding God’s real, unfiltered love for ME.

So yeah, through the surgeries, the grief, the OCD, the moving, the mothering, and everything in between… God has been SO good to me.

If I could go back and hug that self-conscious teenage girl who thought she was ‘a bit too tall’ or ‘too much,’ I’d tell her: ‘Girl, sit down, breathe, and stop hiding. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image!

I’m not hiding behind my age anymore. I’m not caring if people think I look older or younger or whatever. I’m stepping into 30 with a crazy grateful heart, paint on my hands, a beautiful family by my side, and so much excitement for what’s next!

Thank you for being here and reading my rambling thoughts as always. Here’s to chapter 30! 🥂🎉

If you’ve already crossed into your 30s, what’s one thing this decade taught you? And if you grew up in a Nigerian Christian household like me, did you ever go through that unlearning phase too? Let’s chat in the comments!

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Photographer : Prosmemoir LTD

Blue outfit: Instagram (Seams in April)