A Tribute to Mama

It’s my mum’s birthday as I write this; I am thousands of miles away, and due to the pandemic, I cannot say happy birthday in person.

My mum is in her 9^th decade, she has lived a full and varied life; as I sit here reminiscing, I remember the many talks (and yes, a few arguments!) that we’ve had.

Stories that made me smile;

Stories that made me cry;

And more than anything, stories that made me think!

So what can we, women, young ladies, and girls of this generation learn from another woman a couple of years shy of her 90^th birthday.

Growing up there was always some person or people from our extended family living with us, that’s just the African way; all were treated fairly by my mother, there was no favouritism. Today we are all grown up, flung all over the world, yet we share a bond as close as any siblings.

A lesson for life and living learnt at the feet of my mother:

Relationships are important:

Your family are the best friends you will ever have; friends will come and go, but family, that’s a relationship that is constant.

Cultivate those relationships; your sisters may be your competitors, but (believe it from someone with two sisters, one on either side of her), they are the best confidants ever!

And your friendships, invest in them, friends made in church and other social hubs; I have friends made in the workplace, I have since moved on from the job, but not from the friends.

A lesson for life, learnt from my mother; relationships are important; invest in your friendships

I have a “twin sister-friend”, born on the same day as me; we’ve known each other since we were knee high, I am privileged to number her among my friends still.

I attended boarding school, where I bonded with a diverse group of 10, 11, 12 year old girls; ladies if any of you is reading this I just want to say that I have the best class sisters on this planet, truly like the old scout song says, “new friends are like silver, but old friends are like gold”!

So how do you show yourself to be a true friend Proverbs 18:24; how do you invest in friendships?

Send a text to celebrate birthdays;

Send a card at Christmas;

Call just to say hello;

Be a listening ear;

Keep confidences;

Be trustworthy; be honest; be open; don’t be critical; be dependable.

And when the pandemic is over, take time out to visit.

Just let your family and friends know that they’re in your thoughts, and you have their back.

Remember we need each other as we travel along life’s journey; we need older women who have walked the path of this life journey, who understand the curves that life throws at us; we need our peers, they are the ones who laugh with us and sometimes cry with us when we’re having a “bad hair” day; we need the younger ones they keep us on our toes and keep us youthful.  

So, I am grateful for the women whose lives have crossed mine at life’s crossroads and intersections, and you should too.

I’d love to hear from you, so send in your comments or send in an email. Let’s talk!

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See you next Wednesday

Abimbola