For All That Her Hands Have Done (Mother’s Day Special)

Honour her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31(NIV)

It was November of the year 2015, I had just completed my mandatory post-degree national youth service in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, southwest Nigeria. This yearlong youth service helped me reconnect with my maternal family as I lived with my cousin, so I had to go to Ogbomoso, also in Oyo state, where my mum hails from, for the burial ceremony of this my cousin’s mother-in-law, who also hails from the same city as my maternal family. While delivering the sermon during the funeral service, the Baptist minister noted that “motherhood is not merely having children. If it was so, then all women who have children would have understood and embraced motherhood.” Those words from the Reverend Gentleman have since stuck with me and as I come across different women from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and races, it is not difficult to note those who embody motherhood.

Reiterating the words of the Baptist minister, Oprah Winfrey said: “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” Robert A. Heinlein further affirms this, stating that “Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” This puts to rest the notion that you have to be married and/or have biological children to experience the joys of motherhood.  As the world celebrates mothers on this special day, albeit in the face of a raging pandemic, the lockdown as a result of COVID-19 has allowed me to take a cursory look at the various women who have played and continue to play important life-shaping roles in my life and the lives of many others. And it dawned on me that the right response to these mothers is what Proverbs 31:31 quoted above prescribes: honour her.

Honour as a verb means to regard with great respect. Why are we to honour her? For all that her hands have done (see Pro. 31:10-31 for a list of all her hands have done). Mothers, whether biological, spiritual, mentors, guardians, teachers or in whatever form they come, should be honoured and praised for the good works their hands have done and keep doing. The Message Bible puts it this way “Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!” Festoon means to adorn (a place) with ribbons, garlands, or other decorations. So, adorn mothers with praise! This means we acknowledge women who have played and are still playing important roles in diverse capacities be it as a stay at home mom, executives or managers in the corporate world, leaders in the church, in politics, business, etc. as we continue to work towards a safer world for women and girls, ensuring they have access to education, work opportunities with commensurate pay, better opportunities to participate in governance and democratic processes among others.

In conclusion, “let her works bring her praise...”  The prayers and time invested in spiritually grooming kids in the free children’s Bible Club in my neighbourhood since 2014 till date by my numero uno wonder woman- my mum- is one I am sure God is pleased with. The simplicity and practicality with which my Sunday School Teachers (Mrs. Eluyera and Mrs Omisakin) taught me have helped me and others who’ve gone through them remain on track. One of the works of my Indonesian mum is what I call ‘Ani’s kitchen’, my favourite- her banana bread with walnuts - literally is a taste of heaven while on earth. Mama Sara Ardo, my branch pastor's wife, will just sit and listen to you, whatever it is, encourage you, and cap it with prayers, all the while handling two kids! KC Laksmono is another woman who I believe “prayed me” into the Social Ministry of ICA. The children Social Ministry cater to are the works God is doing through her and the many others God has surrounded her hubby with.  My dear friend- Oluwasikemi- amid the hustle and bustle of Lagos, long work hours and a difficult past, is a mother, letting go of her past and allowing God use her in spite of and because of her past, to teach and mentor teenage girls especially on the subject of sexual abuse. Her work- 21 dates with Abba Father- bring her praise- and can be downloaded free at https://theoldteenager.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/21-dates-with-abba-father-2.pdf.

Time and space would fail me to mention every "mother" out there who has done valiantly, but I believe you know yourselves. So, in celebrating mothers this season, I challenge you to get creative during this lockdown in honouring mothers in your life. One of the ways to do so is to share “her works” deserving of “praise” with us and others in the comment section below.

Happy Mother’s Day!