Title: An Ode to a Caring Mother.

Isaiah 66:13 KJV– "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." 

This verse compares a mother’s love to God’s comforting presence. Please read on an ode to my mother. 

  My dear mother, affectionately known as "Iye Joel," was a beacon of love, strength, and sacrifice. She devoted herself tirelessly to ensuring our well-being, embracing every honest endeavor to provide for us.  

Her love was profound—so much so that she sold her own clothes and jewelry to pay my school fees, always en

trusting the money to my father so he could receive the praises. Her generousity knew no bounds; no visitor ever left her home without being invited to share a meal.  

  In the final year of her life, each time I visited, I would call out from outside, and she would respond with warmth—"Oma Luka," meaning a good child. But the last time I called, she could no longer speak. All she could muster was a faint “hmmm.” In that moment, I knew her time was near, and my heart broke.  

  One of her most endearing qualities was her gratitude—she appreciated every single thing given to her, no matter how small.  

  I thank God for her life. She was a prayer warrior, deeply committed to her faith, attending church programs regularly. She was always the first to arrive at church, and even on the morning she fell and broke her hip, her greatest sorrow was being unable to worship in the house of God after the fracture. That devotion remained in her heart until the very end.  

  I am grateful that we were able to celebrate her centenary—a milestone she longed for. Though confined to a wheelchair, she basked in the joy of that moment.  

 Adieu, my beloved mother. "Oma Adanigbo, Oṣoko Ṣaka, Ọmọ Ọlọ́run." I will miss you dearly until we meet again in heaven, by God’s grace.  

Good night, "Iye Joel."

©Dr Joel Olanrewaju, gbemide09@gmail.com