THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023 | BE GRATEFUL, APPRECIATE LIFE

 

A very warm welcome to the month of November, 2023!

You might wish to ask in which capacity or authority I am ushering or welcoming you into the month - (smiles) - but that might never have a definite answer. Just know that you are highly loved and valued.

My name is Robert Mugisa Abwooli, a fellow human being and I write to thank God for you and your loved ones. I thank God for the gift of life that we have to this day. We could have perished in one way or another but the fact that we are alive and able to pick up our phones and read this message is sufficient proof that we are covered by God’s grace and mercy.

Look around you and tell me what you see… There must be another person, right? Even if that person is not very close by, at least you have the feeling that you are not alone in your community or in this world. Take a moment and thank God for yourself, your people and everyone else here-living.

I am mindful of the fact that there are people among us who are celebrating or planning to celebrate particular events and milestones in their lives ranging from graduation, introduction, wedding, receiving of a baby or babies into the family, promotion at the place of work, among others. I do celebrate with you. 

It is written in PSALM 103:1-4: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”

On the other hand, I am also aware of that person (could be me or you) who has been and is still going through some challenging times in life. You might have lost something or someone valuable in life including a close relative or friend, relationship, money, gadget or asset(s); a job offer or opportunity; missed a flight a very important journey; among others. 

Please take heart, aware that life is moving on. It may not be that simple but I request you to pick yourself up, wipe your tears and trust in God who is able to restore everything in even bigger measure. We are told in JOEL 2:25 that God will repay to us for the years the locusts have eaten - the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm - His great army that He sent among us.

So much is going on and so much is bound to go on in this world but what we have to do is continue holding firm onto the faith that we profess. We hear, read about and watch news within our country and around the world and we get shaken at times because of the unforeseen events and human rights abuses and violations. Think of the situation in GAZA; the fires; the floods; the accidents... 

We are left wondering where we could have gone wrong or where we have not played our part enough. But we keep on moving, anyway. We might not have control over certain things and situations but I know that we can pray and continue to work for and towards a better place to live in. We are called upon in JEREMIAH 29:7 to seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which we have carried into exile; to pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, we too will prosper.

I could go on and on but the principle remains one. Let us love one another while remembering very well that each of us was born free and equal in dignity and rights as per ARTICLE 1 OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, 1948. We are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood (and sisterhood of course). No one should ever think of themselves as being higher or above any other person. It may be that you are placed in a more advantaged place or position but at the end of the day, each of us has a place to fall to and rest from the events of the day be they positive or negative. What unites us is life.

I pray that you and I will have a wonderful month of November filled with God’s favor and grace; love and mercy. May there be a peace of mind for you, growth and advancement. I pray that God will make for you a way where there is no way and that every enemy shall be silenced; that you will escape from every death plot and negativity in life but rather live to see and tell of more of God’s goodness in this land of the living and the prosperous. Amen. 

Robert Mugisa Abwooli is a Human Rights Lawyer and Consultant (by God's grace).