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Yes, it was the first year
anniversary of Ilejẹun Jadesọla and mama Jade was pregnant! She decided to
celebrate the anniversary by purchasing the next two houses beside her
restaurant. God had been good and business was lucrative. The home market fall
was also a blessing. Well, after this anniversary, the restaurant was going to
be remodeled. May 11, 2008 was the celebration of mother’s day in North America
and mama Jade decided to celebrate her mother’s memory and the first year
anniversary of her restaurant with a big dinner bash for all mothers. As I sent
my sons to the children’s section she had created, I was extra grateful to God
for making me a mother.
I believe in that smart-mommy-brain
thing. Motherhood helped me to get over the abuse of my past, enjoy my present
and redesign my future. My sons, KristilỌba and KristilOluwa were certainly
godly instruments sent by God to convince me to snipe the string of stupid
relationships I was attached to. Walking towards my seat, I saw Irelope. As we
greeted I remembered her SSS – slap somebody silly slogan. I reminded
her and she laughed, telling me she had forgotten all about it. I thought of
stupidity sniping scissors in my seat. That could be another SSS acronym.
Hebrews 4:12 did say the word of God was a two-edged sword that divided the
soul and spirit and also discerned the thoughts and intents of the heart. I
could liken sin to stupidity and the sword to a scissors. The word of God cuts,
removes, deals with, overcomes, extinguishes, imprisons, and judges sin and
stupidity.
Perhaps I should call it sin
sniping sword, or soul and spirit splitting sword, that’s four SSSS
or... , "Derbira, Derbira", I turned, wondering who was calling me by
a variant I was unaccustomed to, and I was amazed to see what I could only
refer to as the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, walk towards me. Her
smile removed the trace of disapproval already formed on my face over the wrong
pronunciation of my name and I returned her smile.
Lady: I'm told you're Derbira.
"Actually, it's Derbrah"
I responded sweetly.
Lady: O forgive me. Derbrah, well,
I wanted to meet the lady who wrote legacy of grace.
Then it made sense. She had read
Legacy of grace (one of my short plays).
"Well I'm glad you like
it." I replied. "That's two years old."
Lady: Do you have any more? It's
been such a blessing. We've acted it about five times in my church. It creates
a platform for emotional healing and restoration. Do you have any more?
"Let me have your card and
we'll talk." I replied. I noticed mama Jade was walking up to the
microphone, the program was starting. The lady gave me her card and we all
returned to our seats preparing to be edified.
Mama Jade thanked everyone present
for choosing to spend their mothers’ day evening with her. She invited Pastor
Tolu to give the opening prayer. Pastor Tolu had every one laughing when she
mentioned that she was only a spiritual mother so she could not identify with
the screams many women had made in the birthing room. We went on through the program
and I was again refreshed by the Jesu Jays (The stage name Mama Jade’s
girls had given themselves) singing my "Iya ni wura". I was eternally
grateful to God for my mother and for the gift to write and sing. I had told
the girls that their stage name reminded me of a chorus I used to sing as a
little girl – Jesu ja
Jesu ja sẹkẹsẹkẹ mi
Moku O sọ mi dalaye
Ẹjẹ Rẹ iyebiye
Lofi ramipada
Jesus broke all my chains
I died, He gave me life
His blood, so precious
He used to redeem me
Well it was time for my poem. I
picked up the microphone and I read the little poem I wrote the day before.
Mother
That word mother
Is simply divine
That word mother
Makes me smile
A six letter word
Of that awesome person
Who links us with God
In Whom we all begin
What is mother is to me?
M for Mammary
O for Openhanded
T for Teacher
H for Healer
E for Eloquent
R for Refreshing
That’s what mother is to me
Mother
That very special woman
Sometimes, special man
Who cares and nurtures
Disciplines and instructs
Sons and daughters
I’ve become a mother
Twice, I am a mother
No, thrice, bearing in mind the
spiritual
Nay, uncountable times
Considering my life
Many times, I mothered me
Sometimes I think it’s exhausting
Other times it’s exhilarating
Many times I wonder how my mother
did it
But now, I’m secure in ‘faithing’
it
Hope, faith and Love
Describe the word mum
Motherhood is really about
The three things that abound
A mother I am
A mother you are
Mothers we all
Are manifestations of God
Thank you.
I smiled as they clapped. I
returned to my seat with a feeling of godly peace. Who would have known that
me, this same Derbrah, who, eight years ago was deluded, could now be God’s
wisdom instrument? I thought I would never prosper as a single parent, my
thoughts were proven wrong uncountable times. I thought my sons would miss out
because their biological father rejected them, but I was proven wrong as well.
My boys turned out to be blessed by the absence of their biological father. God
raised up godly men to father them in a godly way. I thought my ministry would
suffer because of my divorce, well, I was proven wrong again. God took the
divorce as a seed and promoted me, He gave me double for my trouble. I thought
my past would steal from my future. That was also untrue. Rather Jesus Christ
worked every ungodliness in my past to the glory of His Holy Name through His
redeeming power. My testimony of His grace was just strengthened the more. The
sting of death is gone. The victory of the grave no more. The power of religion
failed, the curse is broken and i am in the blessing. I am Ahraham's seed. I am
a joint-heir with Christ! i am a son of God, I am God's righteousness. these
truths were not just words on the pages of the bible but realities in my life.
maturiy in spiritual things took a price but the dividends were measureless!
The psalm of David, his song of
ascents [degrees], Psalm 124 loomed up in my mind. I had made a song out of it
some years back. The words were playing in my mental media player –– If it
had not been the Lord on our side… thank You so much Lord… Mama
Jade’s voice over the microphone brought me back to the present. She was giving
her testimony. Hearing how great God had been in her life brought joy to my
soul. Mama Jade shared about her divorces, hysterectomy, recreation of her
uterus and the miracle of her pregnancy. I don’t think there was a dry eye in
that room. We were all touched. Then she did something new and sweet. She asked
everyone on each table to pair up in twos, find out each other’s names, birth
dates and motherhood history.
I was glad for the opportunity to
fellowship one on one with the lady beside me. I found out she was a
grandmother. Her son’s name was David. I explained to her that David was the
middle name of my two sons. There was a little history behind that, but we
discussed other issues. The lady was also a minister. She was the founder of
WIN – Women in Newness. She had created that group from 2 Corinthians 5:
17. I thought what she was doing was wonderful. Her group educated women on who
they were in Christ and presented resources for every stage of womanhood. I
sure received her card. I told her that even though I could not join actively
due to my unavailability (their meeting times clashed with a regular activity)
I was going to promote their vision and support financially. She taught me
their little chant which I repeated once because of the nice words. I am a
woman in newness. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. My path shines brighter
and brighter each day. I am a woman in newness and I win, win win!
The food was delicious as usual. I
enjoyed the Broccoli, one of those non-tropical vegetables I thrive on. Moimoi
was a constant delight. During the dance session I saw Korede, she took one
look at my gele and sang Ewo gele gẹngẹ lori aji gbo tọkọ (behold the
lovely headgear on a wife that cares for her husband didligently) - I smiled
and said Jesu Kristi lọkọ mi (Jesus Christ is my Husband). I think the
highlight of the evening was the closing prayer given by "Mama Goke – the
male mother". This was Goke, baba Ifẹ, the Yoruba guy with an adopted
daughter. I thought it was simply perfect, a man was doubling as a mum and dad,
and loving it! With more men like him, there will be less motherless babies
homes.
I picked up my boys who had had a
great time and on our way out, the lady that sat beside me gave me a basket.
"This is for you." She stated, "I put this specially in my car
for a single parent. I was a single parent and I know how it is. Happy mothers
day."
"Thank you." I replied,
giving her a warm hug. That reminded me of last Christmas, while I was shopping
and a lady came up to me, handed me some money and said "Merry
Christmas". The favor of God upon my life is tremendous. His mercies truly
are new every morning, and great is His faithfulness. In the car my sons were
singing a chorus they had probably sang at the meeting. Their voices ministered
to me and the words were edifying. Solomon's psalm (Psalm 127) came up in my
memory - Children are a heritage of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is his
reward, all the glory goes to God. My boys are gifts from God. They were
created to glorify Christ and listening to them sing praise to God inspires me
to keep serving Him.
I was truly awed by God’s great
love for me. He turned my darkness to light. I have déjà vu of dayenu.* I
really don’t know why God loves me, but I’m grateful, glad and gleaming that He
does!
Derbrah writes courtesy of Agape
for All Ministries. Author retains copyright.
*Déjà vu here means a familiar
feeling and dayenu means gratitude for the endless goodness of God.
Jadesọla’s restaurant is a drama
ministry of the Yoruba Christian Women (YCW), an international faith-based
non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Similarity of names and stories
are coincidental. Feel free to copy for non-commercial use. Commercial use
requires permission. For more information on YCW write Jesutoyin Ajikẹ-King (toyinking@yahoo.com).
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Posted by Robot| 31.05.2008 20:29