MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER

…A faithful persistent and God-fearing woman. 

….A mother who taught the value of ethics.

Elma Iris Wright, known to all as “Mother”.  A lady who never forgot birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions and would give me constant reminders about family members.

I once stayed two days with her when she complained about not feeling well, and because I was alone, on the evening of the second day, she started enquiring if there was trouble at home.  I got the message – she felt it was time for me to leave.  She was comfortable and content at home in her own little world to do as she pleased.

On another occasion, there was a news item that a number of Railway pensioners complained that their payments were late. 

Mother sent for me urgently – she needed to speak with me in person without delay.  When I journeyed from Kingston to Port Antonio, after feeding me (of course) and providing home-made toffee to take back for the children, she sat me down.  Now Owen, why haven’t you paid the Pensioners?  After being roundly lectured even while I tried to explain the situation, she reminded me that I was in a position to make a difference to these people some of whom had no other source of income, and that I must DO SOMETHING.  Well needless to say, by the following day, meetings were held, letters were dispatched and the Railway Pensioners began to get their pensions in the same manner as other Government workers. 

My Mother influenced my life immensely.  For example, I have a habit (annoying perhaps) of constantly enquiring of my children, if they’re hungry, because through my growing up years, the moment someone came home or visited food was offered – even if what was prepared was not enough.  Denying self was a way of life for Mother.

I also became the bearer of bad news. 

The youngest and most adventurous of my brothers, McNeil, died at sea at age 30;

 Then her second child, Chester, died at age 53 after battling cancer; followed a few years after by Robin, her firstborn, who also succumbed to cancer.

It is a sobering and humbling experience to have to deliver news to your Mother not once but three times, of the death of three of her four children.

But I am here today not to bring sad news of her passing, but giving thanks to God for allowing me to have had her as a Mother. 

She used to bemoan the fact that she did not have the means to give us a “better life” as she called it.  We couldn’t understand what she was talking about, because we were always happy, fed and clean.  I recall the many evenings as small boys, returning from bird bush or elsewhere, Mother would be waiting outside with the big wash pan of water with a rag in her hand.  We had a river nearby, but no piped water.  Surprisingly, the water would be warm, because she somehow could time us.  But let me tell you, when you’ve been playing in grass all day, whether the water hot or cold, when it touch your skin, you itch all over.  

She challenged.  When I shared with her that I was going to be baptized she merely looked at me.  However, on accepting the Presidency of the Baptist World Alliance Men’s Department last year, she quoted from Luke 9 verse 62 “Whoever puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not worthy of the Kingdom of God”  An admonition, no doubt, to be steadfast in Ministry.

Then from time to time she would quote scripture, one of her favourites being, “Thy word shall be a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.

It saddens me not to have been with her in her final moments.  But I give thanks to God for the opportunity to share with her so many times in her life on how much we loved and appreciated her.

May her soul rest in peace, and light perpetual shine upon her.  Amen.