AFTER A FEW DAYS, I AM SLOWLY RECOVERING FROM THE RUDE, YET PAINFUL SHOCK OF THE NEWS OF THE DEMISE OF "MY SISTER" BANKER. IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD BACK TEARS. DIFFICULT TO HOLD BACK THE PAIN. IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPREHEND WHY IT HAD TO BE OUR DEAR SISTER BANKE. . THE MONTHS OF HOPE, PRAYERS AND FASTING SEEMED TO HAVE EVAPORATED IN A MOMENT.. FOR ME,TIME STOOD STILL WHEN THE NEWS HIT. IT WAS A CUT IN THE HEART. A DEEP CUT IN THE SOUL. AN UNBEARABLE AGONY SEEING SOMEONE SO DEAR AND SO FAITHFUL IN HER STEWARDSHIP TO GOD SUFFER SO MUCH. BUT GOD KNOWS BEST AND I SURRENDER, LIKE ALL OF US TO HIS WILL. MY DEAR SISTER BANKE WAS DEAR TO ME. HER SPIRIT OF SELFLESS SERVICE, HER SWEET MELODIOUS VOICE, HER INFECTIOUS SMILE THAT ALWAYS ENCOURAGES AND HER LOVE FOR GOD. SHE LEFT AN IMPRESSION ON ALL SHE CAME IN CONTACT WITH AND IN AN AMAZING WAY HER DEEP INTROSPECTION ABOUT LIFE HAD AN IMPACT ON ME. IN BANKE WAS AN UNCONQUERABLE SPIRIT TO EXCEL IN WHATEVER SHE DID. SHE NEVER SAW OBSTACLES AS HINDRANCES BUT AS OPPORTUNITY TO LET GOD PROVE HIMSELF STRONG. MY DEAR SISTER. DEATH HAS NO STING BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER DIE IN OUR HEARTS. WE WILL ALWAYS FEEL YOU. THE SWEET MELODY OF YOUR VOICE WILL ALWAYS ENVELOPE US. YOUR PASSIONATE PRAYERS WILL ALWAYS ENCOURAGE US AND YOUR LOVE FOR FAMILY AND VALUES WILL ALWAYS CHALLENGE. THE TESTIMONY OF YOUR LIFE WILL SERVE AS A SOURCE OF STRENGHT. THE HUSBAND, WALE AND BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS; SIMILOLUWA AND ANIKE THAT YOU LEFT BEHIND WILL BLOSSOM UNDER THE CARE OF THE LORD. THOUGH PAINFUL IT IS TO SEE YOU GO AWAY FROM US, WE ARE CONSOLED IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO A LAND THAT IS BRIGHTER AND BETTER. A NEW JERUSALEM WHERE YOU WILL SING IN PRAISE OF THE FATHER. YOUR DEATH REMINDS US ALL OF OUR MORTALITY AND THE NEED TO LIVE EACH DAY AS IF IT WAS OUR LAST. BYE AND BYE DEAR SISTER BANKE. REST IN THE BOSSOM OF YOUR CREATOR AND PLEASE PRAY FOR US ALL. WE WILL MISS YOU DEARLY. BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU GO WITHOUT SINGING YOU A SONG, DEAR SISTER BANKE-" BYE AND BYE, WHEN THE MORNING COMES, WHEN THE SAINTS OF GOD HAVE GATHERED HOME, WE WOULD TELL THE STORY HOW WE'VE OVERCOME-THEN WE'LL UNDERSTAD HIS BETTER BYE AND BYE. SUNDAY DARE