By: Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Liberia’s former foreign minister

You have been beaten and battered by life.
And you find yourself on the brink of suicide.
Then the inner voice screams, “Someone calls you Papa!”
Suddenly, you pull yourself up and decide to soldier on.

You have run the marathon for hours on end.
And your legs have begun to buckle a few meters to the finish line.
Then the inner voice screams, “Someone calls you Papa!”
Suddenly, you muster the strength to stretch to the finish line.

You are studying for your final exams to qualify for the next level.
But stubborn sleep is making advances on your being.
Then the inner voice screams, ‘Someone calls you Papa!”
Suddenly, you shrug off sleep and put in the extra hours to ace the exams.

You are feeling weak and finding it hard to wake up from bed.
And you feel like skipping that boring job even if it is just for a day.
Then the inner voice screams, “Someone calls you Papa!”
Suddenly, you jump up from bed and drag yourself to the workplace.

They have made tempting offers to co-opt you to the scheme.
And you are finding it hard to resist despite the risk.
Then the inner voice screams, “Someone calls you Papa!”
Suddenly, you distance yourself from their ill-fated scheme.

You are offered a “joint” to get over the dullness of the day.
And you pull the “joint” to your lips and are about to draw.
Then the inner voice screams louder, “Someone calls you Papa!”,
Suddenly, you drop the “joint” to the ground to everyone’s shock.

Yes, you have been beaten and battered by life.
And you now feel you’re at the bottom of the bottomless pit.
But no! You decide to soldier on – to resist the trials and tribulations.
You accept that now it is not all about You.
Now, It is also about the SOMEONE WHO CALLS YOU PAPA.