It has been a good four years since my husband and I saw our mothers; our children their grandmothers, in person that is. Both of whom are widowed and old, living with family back home in our respective villages in Papua New Guinea.
Covid has been the biggest contributing factor: it’s not nice at all. We are forever grateful to God for keeping our mothers and all the family back home safe, especially during these pandemic times.
Growing up, in my family as I’m sure it is with many others – mum was the backbone of our family. We went to her for everything we needed, not to our strict pastor dad. Her love held our family together, none of us and I repeat none of us could do no wrong in her eyes. She treated no one differently, all her children she loved equally from first to eighth born.
Mum’s greatest strength is her faith in God; and it was not just because she was married to a pastor – it is who she is. She lives according to her faith. She loves wholeheartedly and expects nothing in return even in her sickbed. The most kind hearted person I know…
Mum never holds a grudge, she always forgives easily. Why mum, I’d ask many times? They don’t deserve your kindness, I’d tell her. Her reply always was, don’t let people’s actions bring you down to their level. Be the better person. Her whole life is based around the following Psalm, which for a very long time, I thought was just her favorite verse:
Psalms 133: 1-3
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
But I know better now, that Psalm basically describes the woman/mother she is.
Mum is a prayer warrior – even these days lying in her sick bed, with the onset of dementia worsening every day – she prays constantly. Maybe it’s the dementia, however as her child growing up & watching her, this habit of prayer is crucial to her her faith in God. She prayed for everything, everyone and every time she felt the need to pray. I believe her prayers have blessed each and everyone of us -her family and continue to do so – even those of us living so far away from her.
YES! A mother’s love is powerful and does not diminish over time nor distance. I know because I live thousands of miles away from mine, and don’t call her regularly, yet I feel her love and the power of her dementia driven prayers, every single day of my life. God listens to the prayers of a mother!
My prayer is to be half the woman and mother, these two women are 🙏 We miss them every single day and pray that God will grant us a way to see each other in the not too distant future 😍
Cherish your mother this mother’s day and every other day 🌺❤
Idau Hahine 