Tribute to Maami
Unto the Lord be the Glory, Great things He has done and greater things He will do. God has been so merciful and faithful to Maami and her daughters; Olufunmilayo, Olanrewaju, Omolara and Adebisi. Since we were born and after the death of our father in 1965, God, the Yahweh has always been there for us; morning by morning, His mercies we see, all that we needed the Jehovah Jireh provided for us, His steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to the end, and they are new every morning, GREAT IS THY FAITHFULLNESS OH LORD.
God, I keep on thanking you for making Maami my mother, an epitome of a good mother; caring, affectionate, hardworking and kind. I learnt a great deal from her. I am the last born of the family and I was four years old when our father died in 1965 yet I did not lack any care. You trained me as you trained my three senior sisters. Ordinarily one would expect that you would relax or even be tired and therefore shift some of the responsibilities to my senior sisters but amazingly, you expended the same energy, time and money to bring me up which contradicts psychologists’ research findings that parents tend to relax after training the first born. Maami, you did not use any leftover or remnant energy, time, money and even disciplinary measures for me, everything was fresh as if I was the first to be raised! No last born in your dictionary, everybody is the same. Maami, you are a rare gem, you are unique, Praise God, you were fearfully and wonderfully made; God’s works in your life are wonderful, I know that very well (Psalm 139: 14).
Maami, you were very caring. I could remember vividly when I was young and I did not like eating my food. You put in all efforts and made sure I ate; you always prepared delicious meals which I often hid under the wardrobe when you were out of sight. You took me to the doctor, and he recommended very expensive cereals and meal replacement like Complan which was very rich in Vitamin C, Iron and Iodine for wellbeing, Calcium and Vitamin D for bone health and Zinc and Selenium to support immunity. In spite of the nutritional value, I hated the cereal just as I hated the food but you always insisted that I should take it. You showed me a wooden bird called “eiye oloke meji” which you said I feared so much and that whenever I saw the bird, I would eat the food and you did not relent in your efforts until I started eating normally, thank you Maami, for being so caring.
I also remember the way you took care of my children, Deola, Deji and Damilare when they were born. Being a nurse midwife was to our advantage. You were very neat and you always insisted that we wash our hands even before touching their soap, sponge and bath. You were always awake when we were sleeping to make sure that they maintained the right position when sleeping and despite the fact there were mosquito nets on the windows and on the cot, you were always awake to drive mosquitoes away whether visible or invisible. Maami, just as you cared for your children; you also took care of your grandchildren and even more.
Maami, can I forget your hard work? You taught me to be hard working, you beefed up my resilience and you also taught me how to be motivated to forge ahead when faced with challenges. I watched you cope with negative situations and this also helped me in my life accomplishments up till today. I remember when I was in class one in the secondary school and I could not return to school on the day of resumption because I was ill. Despite the fact that I had doctor’s certificate, the house mistress punished me severely. I told Maami and she went to explain to the woman that I fell from a storey building and hurt my back and I would not be able to do any hard labour. Unfortunately for me, the situation got worse and the woman added to my punishment. I did not tell Maami, but I applied her coping mechanisms until the end of the academic year when I changed to another secondary school. Since that time, I learnt how to work hard, study in the night and also to be resilient.
Maami, thank you for laying the foundation for my education, your support during my First Degree, Masters Degree and Doctorate Degree cannot be overemphasized. You encouraged me to progress after obtaining Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE). I could remember when you told my husband when we were planning to get married that he should please let me continue with my education after marriage and he consented. Additionally, you greatly influenced my choice of teaching profession together with my husband and I have never regretted my choice of the profession.
Maami, I cannot finish writing about you. You taught to be morally upright and taught my lips to pray. You loved the ways of God and this is the best legacy that you left behind for your children. As a virtuous woman, did not eat the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31: 27); but rather bread won by active, conscientious and diligent labour. You worked very hard for whatever you ate; you never ate where you did not sow. You laboured tirelessly over your children and therefore your children called you blessed (Proverbs 31: 28); and you were able to perform the roles of two people successfully. Maami, many women do noble things, but you surpassed them (Proverbs 31: 29). Thus, you are an overcomer and that is why we are celebrating your life today.“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3: 21).
Maami, we believe that it is well with your soul in Jesus name. Continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ till we meet to part no more. Maami, e sun re o.
Your daughter, Grace Adebisi Fayombo
