TRIBUTE TO MY GREAT MOTHER MRS BEATRICE EKEANYA

 

THE BELL TOLLS ON.

1.       I was at work with my phone on silence, only to see many missed calls from home from different people after work. My heart started shivering that I hope my mother was fine. Eventually, when I called back, the worst news ever was broken to me. It dawned on me that the bell has tolled on the fulfilled and great life of the one whose genes flow in my veins.

2.       My great and lovely mother adieu, as I honor you today. From the beginning of your life, life served you bitter pills as you lost  both your parents at a very teenage age. You literally had to cater for yourself under a strict tutelage of an aunt. That's where and when you built the great reservoir of hard work, patience, endurance and resilience with strong faith in the only one that matters - GOD ALMIGHTY.

3.       You suffered immensely while growing up, and when you married my dad from a supposed wealthy family, you thought the sufferings were over until death snatched my grand father who showed you so much kindness leaving you to the hate and envy of many. But having been through that road to Golgotha before, you rolled your sleeves and embraced what life offered you even while you had to shepherd nine children in the midst of spanking hatred.

4.       You literally saw hell working for people to be able to earn money to cater for the nine Children even when you were surrounded by plenty which the greedy and wicked hijacked  for themselves  and their children thereby denying you of the ownership of family wealth  that our great grand father bequeathed to his children.

5.       I could literally remember how you suffered to raise me. From the first day you took me to school till I graduated, you saw hell raising my school fees and providing for me and my siblings.

6.       When everyone refused to lend you my school fees or money for my books, you were literally working like a slave to make sure I went to school especially when you realized that any day I stayed at home from school because of school fees, I would cry and murmur in  disgust to your listening ears.

7.       You never stopped encouraging me to endure and that I was born to be great. You daily rehearsed in my ears how my right hand was raised even on the first day I was born, an indication of victory and greatness.

8.       These words of yours daily motivated me to make you proud by working hard to repay you for the pains you went through to raise me. One of the greatest things you taught was that I should put my hopes in God, as He only was and is our helper and would see us through.

9.      I learnt not to patronize witchcraft and Dibias rather to put all my trust in God no matter the situation as HE alone is the GREATEST and GOD of ALL.

10.    You taught us to depend only on God as the way of the wicked is eternal damnation. This was why God sent you back from the dead even when you were on the road to the dead on a sick bed when we were still very young after the civil war.

11.   You narrated the story of how you were on a lonely road walking to unknown destination until an angel of the Lord sent you back and suddenly you heard the voice of one calling you. You fell down from the sick bed, woke up and became well instantly.

12.   This was the greatest thing you taught me which formed the bedrock of my life and survival as a man that I am today. You taught me to put all my trust in God no matter the situation.

13.   Today, that is the secret of my existence and survival in life. The enemy had tried countless number of times to eliminate my life.  Each time when I called you and   told you about each of the incidents, you asked me to give praise to God and leave vengeance to God.

14.  After all their attempts on my life failed, they now chose the campaign of character assassination and calumny to change the records you helped me to build, I called you , you told me not to worry that no man can change records of achievements of a man blessed by God Almighty. Rather the more they try to destroy my records, the more the Lord continues to create new records in my life. 

15.    You told me to be strong and to  trust in the Lord. It’s that way of the Lord you chose against the way of the devil.  It’s that way of the Lord that made you break all records in life to live and accomplish your life after all the several attempts they made on your life both spiritually and physically.

16.   But He that was in you was greater than he that was in them. You survived and lived a fulfilled life with a record age longer than all your age mates. 

17.   All thanks to you mother. All your motherly counsels work for me. All thanks to you mother. You broke all records as a mother. Whom God has blessed, no man can curse. 

18.   If there is reincarnation, you will return to my household as my daughter. And if not,  your alter ego will surely be my daughter, to remind me of the love and bond we shared together as mother and son. That is my only wish from you my great mother.

19.   You broke all records in life when you stuck your neck  out and trained me in the University. That’s why the wicked came after you when they saw that you are about to enjoy the fruits of your hard work. 

20.   They sent stroke to you to stop you from enjoying the last part of your life after all you suffered to raise us, but you survived and went ahead to complete your life on earth as ordained by God.

21.    Adieu my great mother, until we meet again in heaven, where we will part no more. The memories of the bond we shared together as mother and son remain fresh on my mind.

22.   Someday when the time is ripe and the stage is set, I will come back to honor you and my father.

23.     My consolation is that I know you have gone to be with the Lord whom you served all your life, and you will be looking over us as the next guardian angel. Your spirit lives on mother. 

24.   I love you and forever you will be in my heart. Adieu mother until the day we will stand behind you before the Lord as your children to give account of our stewardship here on earth.

25.   Adieu sweet mother, safe journey as you go home in Peace, until we meet again to part no more.

From your beloved son,

ANAYO EKEANYA-Former Special Adviser to Senator Stella Oduah.

(MBA,BSc, DAIT)