We had one of those perfect evenings yesterday. There was no “I’ll join virtually” excuse; everyone showed up in their raw elements—Mary, Ann, Sandra, and I. And the perfect icing was that we all kept time.
We had an argument over what to order, as usual, because Mary forces people to always order tea after meals. This rule applies at her home too, you’ll never find Mary without tea in a flask.
As we settled on what everyone wanted, we started updating each other about our lives.
“Guys, we’ve truly behaved today. Do you know this is the second meeting in one month?” she said while stirring her juice.
“Yes. We have to meet because you all miss me. What will you be without me?” I said, laughing.
They all threw insults while laughing. Behind the laughter, we all shared an unspoken truth—we’ve been chasing the bag, fighting secret demons, chasing deadlines, paying bills, doing anything to stay afloat.
“Sometimes I miss those days we had nothing to worry about. The days we would sleep until 11 a.m.,” she said while reaching for her biscuits.
“Those were the golden days. Now I can’t even buy a comb without checking whether I’ll sleep hungry,” said Mary, laughing.
We began catching up properly. We always do this when we meet. We talked about our disappointments, battles, and the things we still hoped for. We focused more on gratitude.
“Bills were suffocating me. I lost my job and barely had anything on me. I decided to do what I love for a living—baking. I didn’t expect to get clients, but I’m grateful for every cake ordered. I’m not there yet, but I’m happy with the little orders I get. I’ll get there with time. I’m glad that I’m now at peace,” Sandra said while biting her cake.
“That’s nice. The peace in you will open more doors. That setback was a blessing,” I said, smiling.
“I was angry for weeks because I didn’t get the promotion I’d been eyeing at work. I felt like I failed myself. But looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t get it. I realize I wasn’t ready for the pressure. I’m still learning, and I’ll get another promotion later,” Mary said.
There was silence after that—the kind of silence that allows you to breathe as you work through your thoughts.
“I’m grateful for you. All of you. Sitting like this makes us feel at home. I pray that God will fulfill your heart’s desires. Today, I’m grateful for you all.”
“We accept Chege too,” Mary said, laughing.
“Nkt, don’t spoil my mood,” I rolled my eyes.
“Irene will shout at us. Didn’t you see what Chege did to her over the weekend? Let’s shut up before she boils. We hope he’ll apologize properly this time,” Ann shouted while laughing.
“Yeah, Chege makes her happy, which makes us happy. He’ll have to apologize properly. Irene really cried. Who expected the surprise she told us about a whole week was Chege washing dishes?” They all laughed loudly.
“I’ll leave this place and never talk to any of you,” I retaliated.
“We’re sorry!” they all shouted in unison.
I could see all of them fighting their laughter.
“Everything was going wrong at first—the divorce, the low-paying job, unfulfilled dreams. But I’m grateful for everything. The divorce helped me focus more on myself. I noticed I was too comfortable with everything. I’m now cautious with my expenditure, I work out more, and I’ve learned to create balance between family and my wellness. Everything is falling into place. It was painful at first, but I’m getting better by the day. I’m grateful for you all for never judging my bad decisions,” Ann whispered.
“We have to remember that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be good,” I said.
That line lingered in the air, and everyone nodded slowly. It was true.
The bill came, and Mary volunteered to pay. She kept reminding us that she had “change” from her birthday M-Pesa messages. She really bragged about it. “You guys can pay next time. I’m a rich woman today.”
As we stepped out, the sun was already melting. We stood on the pavement, not ready to let each other go. We felt the meeting was too short. Mary told us she had gotten a lovely gratitude journal and promised to get each of us one.
In that simple moment, surrounded by laughter and warmth, I realized something. Gratitude isn’t about grand gestures or perfect lives. It’s about recognizing the little things—the people who show up, the small wins, the lessons hidden in our struggles.
When I got home, I penned down a message in my notebook:
“Dear God, I’m grateful for friends who keep me in check. I’m grateful for good company. I’m grateful for laughter after long weeks, for coffee dates with people with genuine happiness. And above all, I’m grateful for giving me joy.”
Numbers 6:24-26