Mama
I wake up each day, sometimes in the middle of the night, and every time I wish this was just a bad dream that will go away. This heart wrenching pain is none like I have ever had…. Oh Mum! I suddenly feel naked without you, I didn’t realize how much of a covering you were until I didn’t have that covering anymore.
How can I possibly describe the beauty and blessing of being your daughter? How do I put into words the joy of being a recipient of such selfless and sacrificial love that I constantly received from you….?
Mum, you told me times without number that you specially prayed for a daughter, simply because you did not have any sister. You called me your daughter and your sister. I am grateful to God for the beautiful mother-daughter relationship we had, for the beautiful memories of the times we had together that I will forever cherish. I say it today and forever “I am blessed to call you my mother”
Your dedication and commitment as a mother were second to none! Abiyaamo toto, your intuition was always outstanding, on the days that things are not just right in my world, you will just call as if you knew, that was how much in tune you were with me. A word in season, a heartfelt prayer that can only come from a mother’s heart, suddenly made everything right in my world and put a spring in my steps. Mum did not by any means play around with her role as steward, taking care of the seeds that God had placed in her care. She nurtured my siblings and I with love, with her, we were always confident of her love and support. You taught us to love ourselves and stay united; you were huge on this, and now more than ever I am grateful for the foundation you laid.
A praying mother! Oh Mum, no matter where I am, I knew with no doubts that you and Dad will wake up in the middle of the night praying for me and my siblings; calling each person by name, and as our family expanded and the names that you had to call increased, you still prayed for each one of us, calling us by name.
Mum, you were my pillar, all those long years in God’s waiting room, I don’t know what I would have done without you. You prayed for me and prayed with me! When my faith wavered, I rode on yours and you constantly reminded me of God’s faithfulness. You said to me many times” Olubunmi, God has never failed me, and he will not start failing me with you” You were right, Mum, as always. He came through for us!
Each time I hear Tese call me mama now, you come to mind instantly, because that was what I fondly called you. I wish you could have stayed with us longer to watch him grow, but I am eternally grateful to God that you were there to help me nurture him in the first six months of life and to navigate the uncharted waters of motherhood.
Mamma! You were a special breed, your presence carried an aroma that is seen in your smile, your walk and your talk. My very first mentor; you carried yourself with such grace and dignity; you were ever sweet.
Corinthians 13:4-8 depicted your life and times, Mum, you were all about love; I watched you show love to everyone around you; you were a genuine lover of people; you believed so much in the power of love and you showed love, even to the seemingly unlovable people, simply because you were just who you were. You were as plain minded as they come; never one to hide your feelings, with you people always knew where they stood, because you will express your displeasure, but once you said what you had in mind, you will lovingly forgive. You could hold no grudge.
A true Proverbs 31 woman, you taught me about love, honor and commitment simply by watching you with Dad, You were a loving wife to my Dad for 53 years, some of those years I had the privilege of taking the front row view as you loved and supported him through the good times and not so good times, through the lean times and the fat times, you were a true friend of your “A Jolly Joe’’ Thank you both for giving us your very best and creating an environment that will help us thrive.
A wise woman you were, and I learnt much life’s lessons from you, one lesson you taught me I will never forget because of the circumstances that surrounded that lesson, is to always respect people, irrespective of their background and status. As I journey through life, this wisdom nugget has served me well and I am ever blessed by it.
My Mama! My personal sounding block, with you I knew I will get nothing but the truth, for an honest opinion you were always my go-to person because you would say it the way it was. It was either I take it or leave it.
Mummy, I miss you! Oh, how I miss you! I miss hearing your voice; miss our regular gist; miss your warm embrace and my heart breaks a million pieces at the finality of it all, but I am grateful to God for your life. Yours was a well-lived life; you were fulfilled, and you left behind a great legacy. I will not sorrow like them that do not have hope because there is an assurance of a future together in Christ.
My last meaningful conversation with you, you told me ‘’Olubunmi, I have been in heaven for the past three days, oh! Its so beautiful! It is really beautiful there” I guess you glimpsed your heavenly home, and it was just time to go.
You have fought the good fight; you have finished your race, and you kept the faith
Rest on, dear Mama! Rest in the bosom of your maker until the resurrection morning, when we will meet to part no more.
Your daughter,
Olubunmi Owon.
