A typical African mother with her child.To Mama Africa With Love
Dedicated to the memory of my beloved mother.
African mothers are the most hardworking mothers on earth.
In Africa, we see how much burden African mothers bear at home, on the farm and in the market. They are great mothers, farmers and traders. They sacrifice so much for the love of their precious children. I knew how much my beloved mother of blessed memory Gladys Eke suffered as a grass widow during the Nigerian civil war, doing her best to protect and save her precious children without the presence and support of her husband our father. She lost three of her six children to kwashiorkor and still carried on until the end of the war as I have recalled in Memories of a Refugee Child. She worked hard to take care of us even after she lost her husband a decade and three years later.
I was a strict vegetarian for over 12 years and she was the only one who could cook for me until her last day on earth. She was very fond of me and both of us loved to sit down and discuss the experiences and lessons of life as we watched passersby in front of our first residence on Obalende Road in Obalende on the Lagos Island and later in front of our second place of abode, the old Morocco Ville bungalow on the Bajulaiye road in Shomolu, Lagos. She always took me along to the popular markets in Lagos such as Iddo, Itafaji, Jankara, Sandgrouse, Obalende, Oyingbo, Ajegunle Boundary and Mushin to teach me how to shop. She taught me how to change diapers and how to sew on her old Singer sewing machine and she also taught me how to cook. I cherish all these sweet memories of my sweet mother. I cannot mention all the great things my beloved mother had to endure and did as a poor African mother who wanted the best for her children. The unforgettable golden memories of my beloved mother are enshrined in my heart.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Wishing all Mothers a Very Happy Mother's Day
Read the following contributions The First Lady of the United States of America Michelle Obama and anotehr from a friend.
Dear Friend,
There's no way I could ever measure all that my own mother has done for me. She is my rock. She pushes me to be the best professional, mother, wife and friend I can be.
As a mother myself, I've come to realize that being a mom isn't always easy and that no one can do it alone.
My husband understands the many challenges facing today's mothers and their families. His Administration has taken steps to level the playing field and ease the burden.
The first bill the President signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that no women face the same discrimination and injustices that Lilly did after 20 years on the job. When women make less money than men for the same work, families have to work harder just to get by.
The President signed an Executive Order creating the first-ever White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Federal agencies take women and girls into account in their daily work and to ensure that our daughters have the same opportunities as our sons.
Through the Let's Move! Initiative and the President's Task Force on Childhood Obesity, we're helping to provide parents with the knowledge and tools they need to make healthy choices for their children and teach their children to make healthy choices for themselves.
This week, we are celebrating Women's Health Week to promote steps women and girls can take to lead longer, healthier and happier lives.
Mother's Day is about showing our gratitude for the mothers and mother figures who have influenced our lives. The President and I would like to extend our warmest Mother's Day wishes to all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and friends who have inspired a child.
Happy Mother's Day!
Michelle Obama
Lee Strobel tells about a mother from Costa Mesa, California who told about the day her three-year old son was on her heels wherever she went. She was having trouble doing her routine chores.
"Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around I would trip over him," she said. "Several times I suggested fun activities to keep him occupied, but he would just smile and say, 'That's alright Mommy I'd rather be in here with you.' He continued to follow me and after the fifth trip, my patience wore thin and I asked him why he was following me constantly."
He said, "My Sunday school teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps but I can't see him so I'm walking in yours."
The greatest way we can teach our children about and show our loved ones the love of Jesus is through the example of how we live, and how we model his love in our everyday life.
The Apostle Paul said, "Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."1
Suggested prayer, "Dear God, please help me to so live that people, especially my children (and loved ones), will see Jesus in me and will want to follow in my footsteps and have Jesus in their life too. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV).
