About two weeks ago, around 6 p.m., I found myself sitting on a bench outside my mom's marketplace. I had just returned from church rehearsal and stopped by to say hi to her, collect a bottle of groundnuts, and get some fufu (a local Nigerian swallow made from cassava or other starchy foods) for later use.
I didn't even notice the rainbow at first. My sister pointed it out to me, and I quickly took two pictures before it faded.
It wasn't a complete rainbow. More than half of it was visible, but it didn't stretch all the way across the sky. Still, I stopped what I was doing just to capture that little moment.
For a few seconds, I simply looked at it before returning to what I was doing. Later that night, I also posted it on my WhatsApp status.
I don't know what it is about rainbows, but even as an adult, they still intrigue me. There is something about seeing one that makes you pause, no matter how many times you've seen one before.
The first thing that came to my mind was God's promise to His people that He would not send a rain that would cause a flood again.
Interestingly, after seeing that rainbow, I noticed the rain wasn't as heavy as it had been in the previous days. I don't know if it was just coincidence, but I noticed it.
I felt hopeful — hopeful that the rain would reduce, even if it didn't completely stop.
I also found myself thinking about the word "rainbow."
Hmmm... it sounded like "rain, bow down" to me — like when someone takes a bow.
It made me think about the things in life that sometimes feel overwhelming. There are seasons where challenges seem like they will keep pouring, but eventually, even the heaviest rain becomes lighter.
This season of my life has been teaching me humility and gratitude in ways I didn't expect.
I have learned to appreciate the little things — family members who understand, a few close friends who look out for me in their own ways, small acts of kindness, and moments of peace in the middle of uncertainty.
Sometimes, when life feels overwhelming, it takes awareness to pause and notice small moments of beauty.
You have to choose to look up sometimes, literally.
That was what the rainbow was for me that evening. A small moment. Nothing that solved every problem, but something that made me stop, look, and hope a little.
Maybe that's why I believe the rainbow is something we can always look forward to.
Not because it fixes everything, but because it reminds us that seasons change.
The rainbow wasn't complete, but it was still beautiful.
Maybe that is a reminder for us too — life doesn't have to be perfect before we can find moments of beauty and hope. 🌈
Photo lightly enhanced for visibility and clarity. No elements were added or removed.
