Opinions

Tribute to my mother

A woman who did everything within her capacity to give her children the best. You were strong from the beginning to the end. Principled, pragmatic and practical. You were very principled and pragmatic in your approach to things, this I took for wickedness until I grew up. You did not mind whose ox is goad as long as you played out the truth. Your heart was healthy towards both friends and foes. I believe you could have been a great political leader. A dutiful disciplinarian, you did not spare the rod. You lavishly and lovingly gave us a treat of the rod everyday. For this, we are grateful. The very many rods have made us fit in the society. A woman of God said, if you do not discipline your children at home, the society will help you punish them. You did not leave us to be punished by society. For this, I say THANK YOU.

You did not take a No for an answer when it came to our education. I remember my admission to the University of Lagos. When it looked like I was not going to scale through, you followed me to Lagos and insisted on seeing the H.O.D. When the secretary said no, you sat on the floor in her office. The H.O.D, late Professor Biodun Adetugbo, walked in and asked what was wrong and you said, it was my admission. He told you to stand up but you refused. You remained on the floor until the man brought the admission list out and included my name. For this, I am grateful. You were indeed faithful to motherhood. You respected everything labelled GOD. Whether it was Islam or Christianity. You honoured your Moslem in laws without reservations. When Bishops came visiting, we prepared as if God himself was coming. It was always a great reception. Years ago, you attended our convention in Rehoboth Cathedral and the guest minister called for a breakthrough seed. You went ahead to give Ten Thousand Naira each on behalf of two of your daughters who had delay in child bearing. Within a year the two of them gave birth a month after each other. Abiyamo tooto, Sun re o.

You never joked with your tithe. You never joked with your service in church. You never joked with your love for the saints. You said sorry when you had to. You said sorry unreservedly. You said sorry with a cheerful heart. I remember you were upset with me marrying a pastor. For years you could not comprehend it because of the lack we went through. One day, you came to tell me that you have come to pack my things out of my matrimonial home. 19 years after, you came to thank me for not listening to you as regards marrying a pastor. You said in Yoruba….. Ose ti o gboran si mi lenu.

Liberal and liquid

You complained that the food served you was always cold and I asked why the care givers did not microwave it but they said, you had given the microwave out. One of my sister’s got you a dispenser but before she came back visiting, you had given it out. I opened your wardrobe a day after your demise and found nothing there. I wanted to get angry but I remembered Myles Munroes message that says, we should die empty. You died loving all. You could not stand those in need. Every time, I sent your allowance, two, three days after you would say you have used it to help people. I would get angry but now I see the God nature you exhibited to all and sundry. Nothing was too small to give, nothing was too big to give out. To you, everything must FLOW….We asked you why you will always cook when you go for people’s social events……. You said, it is not good to be a liability anywhere you went to if you can cook something along and also share with people at parties. When Mama Adelakun died, you prepared your own food and drinks as if you were the chief host. Giving has been your lifestyle from the start, the very essence of God.

Strong and strange

Even in sickness, you refused to bow. What strange strength? There was no work too tedious, no labour too tiring. You were a cat with nine lives. You remained strong till the very end. To God alone be all the glory. Organised and harmonised, you called my husband and I and brought a detailed, unruffled list of how your burial should go. You did not miss out any detail. That has been your lifestyle from the day I knew you. You will always say, put everything in black and white. So many full diaries in your shelves. You kept all the family pictures under different headings. Nothing missing or disorganised. One would think you were a retired librarian.

A bridge builder, you brought everyone together. Always building impossible bridges and succeeding at it. Grandma, you had your own shortcomings just like any other human. If grandma has offended you in anyway, I sincerely ask for your pardon and forgiveness. If we the children have also offended you, we also ask for forgiveness. To err is human, to forgive, divine. Grandma, you are loved and cherished. My greatest joy and confidence is that we will meet again. Thank you Lord for making me pass through this Angel Grandma, you had your own shortcomings just like any other human. If grandma has offended you in anyway, I sincerely ask for your pardon and forgiveness. If we the children have also offended you, we also ask for forgiveness. To err is human, to forgive, divine. Grandma, you are loved and cherished. My greatest joy and confidence is that we will meet again. Thank you Lord for making me pass through this Angel.