By A letter to my love, my friend, my wife and my partner -Barr.Saidat Olayemi Rahman (Esq)
on her birthday
Ten years of relationship, three years of marriage- that’s how long we’ve been with one another. It feels like a lifetime – so much has changed .In the time I’ve known you, we have both changed for the better – we compliment and act as one another’s confidant, friend, partner and lovers.
We’ve been through our times of trials and tribulations.
Despite the trials – we have made each other stronger. You have made me happier, stronger, and more empathetic – you have also given me the cherished gift of your love, your tears and support in my times of pain.
You have given me more than just your love; you gave me our first daughter Muceenah Niniola Itanife -Muceenah is almost three! 2.5 years old! All parents gush about how smart their children are – but we both know there’s something special and unique about her. I cannot verbalize or put to words my thanks to you for her. She’s a gift you’ve given to me.
What can I say about someone who greats me with a smile and a laugh whether it’s five in the morning, or me just coming home from a hard day at work?
Muceenah is more than a gift; she’s a blessing. Her happiness and flourishing is not just due to doctors, or therapists – it’s directly tied to the amazing love and care you provide to her. Every time I look at her, I see an extension of you – your smile, your happiness.
She is again, a gift and blessing you’ve given me.
You’ve given me so much; you’ve changed me so much. You’ve made me look outside of myself and think of others – you, my daughter, you’ve driven me to try to change the world and help as many people as I can. You’ve driven me to be better – a better man, a better husband, father and human.
Times change – people change. We have our hard times – we have those times when we both want to go lock ourselves in the bathroom just to get a moment of quiet. We have times when we just don’t know what will come, and times when we wish what had come had not. We have persevered over the hard times we’ve faced until now, and those hard times we face now, we face together, as one.
You are beautiful – you always have been, you are strong – you are honest and critical. I might say half-jokingly that you’re my better half sometimes – but you really and truly are (You are also better looking than me!)
You, and my daughter have given me more than a reason to just keep working, just to keep moving from day to day. You’ve given me a reason to truly live, to truly push myself beyond anything I could have imagined three years ago. You’ve given me a place and arms to cry in, to laugh in, and to grow in. You’ve given me a view of life, of living, of loving I never dreamed of having.
I know that once again we face hard times.
My gift to you is this – my expression of how much I truly value you, cherish you and how grateful I am – in spite of all the hard times – the good times, the memories, our daughter and most importantly our love. I am but a broken man, but with you I am whole. You certainly are the love of my life. I still cannot believe that you have said yes to a man like me. Seriously, I always thank God for having you by my side and for waking up next to you every morning. There is nothing that I want more than to spend the next one hundred birthdays of yours by my side. My dear wife, you know how much I always wish to give you the best of what the world can offer. This day is no different. So I wish you a very happy birthday and I promise to love you forever love you my sweetheart, happy birthday!
Thank you for being who you are.
Thank you for being with me.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for letting me love you in return.
Rahman Idris Olamilekan (Husband)
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