WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME

JUST THINKING

Mothers are very important in our lives. They carry their babies for nine months, go through pains but stay strong till the babies come forth. They become restless when their husbands are running late from work, when their child is sick and even when there is no food at home. They sleep late and wake up early.  In short, they are super humans and the world is a better place because of them. Read Proverbs 31:10 -31.

Our mothers communicate to us in words and sign languages. The things they say to us verbally are as important as the things they say to us without saying a word. Though my mum is late, the things she said to me still sound in my ears till today. 

Proverbs 4; 20 -22 says, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

Mothers have a way of encouraging us when we are downcast. When I felt like throwing in the towel, she would dissuade me from doing it. Instead, she would make me see the brighter side of life. She would always say in my dialect ''All will be well''. 

They know how to amplify what our daddies say to us. Taking a cue from my mum, she would pull her ears and say, “You know the kind of family you came out from, please do not bring shame to us". She always advised her children to hold and keep the values of the family in high esteem. 

Also, she was a good manager of resources. This is one of the things she taught me without saying a word. Her ability to do much with little was amazing. This is an ability mothers have that I respect so much. As regards this ability most mothers have, we all can learn on how to take care of what we have, use them judiciously and harness the resources we have. The wisdom of this aspect of mothers is that whether you have so much or not, you must not squander your resources just because you have them. 

Wow, there were other things about her that thrilled me. She spoke several languages which gave her an upper hand over others wherever she went to. She was industrious and hard working. She was not tribalistic and not narrow minded. Indirectly, I learnt that I should accept other cultures, tribes and people unconditionally. I should also keep learning new things anywhere I go and anywhere I find myself in life. 

Furthermore, cooking in some parts of the world is meant for the women alone but my mom made sure that everyone of us (the males and females) learnt how to cook. In other words, cooking is a culture in my family. Today, the men, women, and grandchildren in my family can cook or are learning how to cook. Do not relegate women to the background in your life. Do not depend on people to do for you what you can do for yourself. 

She was a good dancer, a liberal person and she didn't segregate. She used her resources to take care of everyone. As long as everyone was okay, she was okay. She took everyone as her own and she would forgive anyone who offended her again and again. Forgiveness is key if you want to live at peace with people.

Lastly, she served God even to her old age. My mum and Dad were godly, prayerful and Christians. They made me realize that it is only God we should serve and He is the only one who can save, deliver, heal, protect, and direct us and so on. They pointed us to God and made us realize that our relationship with God is more paramount than the things we crave for in life. If I may ask, what did your mum tell or say to you?