Such problems are not solved in one day but there is a great

Hear the words of Paul Kagame, a leader who rose from the ashes of war and despair: “Such problems are not solved in one day but there is a great step toward peace and security in the region.” This utterance is more than political speech; it is the voice of one who has known the weight of bloodshed and the long road to healing. For in these words lies the wisdom that true restoration does not come like lightning, sudden and complete, but like the dawn—gradual, patient, and steadfast.

The meaning is plain yet profound: great problems, especially those born of hatred, violence, and division, cannot be mended in an instant. A scarred land and a broken people must walk the long path of reconciliation. Yet every step, however small, carries immeasurable power. For in every act of dialogue, in every treaty signed, in every hand extended where once there was only enmity, there is progress toward peace and security. Thus Kagame’s words remind us that the triumph is not in swift victory, but in faithful perseverance.

History offers us a mirror in which to see these truths. Recall the rebuilding of Rwanda after the genocide of 1994, when rivers ran red and neighbor turned against neighbor. The world saw only ruins and despair, but through years of effort, through justice sought in the courts, through truth told in open assemblies, through reconciliation between victims and perpetrators, the nation began to heal. Not in a single day, nor in a single year, but step by step, Rwanda moved closer to the vision Kagame declared: peace and security rooted in the soil of patience and labor.

This truth has echoed in other ages as well. Consider post-war Europe after the devastation of the Second World War. Cities were leveled, nations divided, families broken. Yet through the slow, determined work of rebuilding—the Marshall Plan, the uniting of former foes, the creation of bonds of trade and trust—Europe rose from its ashes. Decades were required, but each step marked progress, and through perseverance, a continent found stability. So too do Kagame’s words reflect this universal lesson: no wound is healed overnight, yet every stitch woven in hope brings the body closer to wholeness.

The emotional weight of this truth cannot be ignored. For many, the yearning for peace is immediate—they long for the violence to end today, for hatred to cease now, for safety to be restored in an instant. Yet life, in its harshness, does not grant such haste. It requires patience, the endurance of the weary, and the courage of leaders who see beyond the moment. It is easy to despair when solutions are slow, but Kagame calls us to see each advance, however small, as sacred. Every forward step is victory over despair.

What then, dear listener, is the lesson for your own life? Just as nations heal slowly, so too do hearts, families, and communities. The great problems you face—whether bitterness between friends, wounds within families, or struggles within yourself—will not vanish in a single day. But do not despise the small steps: a word of forgiveness, an act of patience, a hand extended in kindness. For every step you take is a brick laid in the fortress of your own peace and security.

Therefore, let your spirit be steadfast. Do not grow weary when change is slow, nor despair when progress is unseen. Remember Kagame’s wisdom: lasting peace is not born in haste, but in endurance. Strive daily toward reconciliation, guard the seeds of unity, and honor the small victories. In doing so, you shall not only heal your own life, but you will also strengthen the fabric of the world around you.

So I say to you: walk the long path. Treasure every step. For though problems are not solved in a day, each effort made in truth and in hope is a great stride toward the eternal promise of peace and security for all.