I woke up feeling so cold. It felt strange, I couldn’t understand all of it.. My mind was wrapped up in different thoughts, I was so confused. To make matters worse, I saw eyes peering at me…
“What are you staring at?” I asked but no one could hear me.
Everyone started smiling, and that made me feel more comfortable (or so I thought). However, I was still cold all the same and at that thought I cried, tossing my arms and feet. It was louder than I anticipated but I knew I needed help. I wasn’t alone and I intended to have my way at all cost so I cried the more… seeking attention. That was what I was good at, I later came to realize. My need was met. I was given a lot of warmth and at that moment I was more than grateful. I smiled within and concluded that I had fallen in love with the new environment after all … This is the mental picture I have about my birth.. Smiles, yeah I’m smiling.
I badly needed to start from somewhere, I told myself repeatedly. I just couldn’t pick a starting point. I had floating points to pen down I felt they were going to outweigh my brain capacity. And yes, maybe thoughts of this woman could outweigh it. It is indeed more than amazing and in all, it still feels like I lack words to express this amazingly and beautifully graced woman. She had captured my heart when I cried the second time to say I was hungry and she had lovingly carried me in her bosom for my first suckle. I was held with arms that spoke volume of. In all truth, I don’t think I understood that love.
So I asked myself what better way to start than from the beginning. I’ve spent the over 20 years of my life with you and with every single day, I lift my heart to say thank you to God that I have you. I mustn’t forget to keep being truthful, but I must say there were times I didn’t understand you. I just didn’t know why you were so harsh. I didn’t understand why you always wanted me to be close to you. I just didn’t see your own ideas then. I didn’t understand the day you decided to give out the remaining pepper soup that was mine to a visitor who didn’t stay for more that three minutes. You promised to make another one but at that moment, I was stunned and unhappy. I knew you loved me and you never failed to show it all the same.
Today I honor you not because it is a day with a tag but because your life is one that should be celebrated. I love you more than words can express. I love that you love me. I love that you love God and you’ve made me see how much there is to gain from loving God. Your life stands as an inspiration to me and sometimes I feel I can’t be like you. You are sweeter than sweet itself…but now I understand all you’ve ever done. In all, you’ve done every single thing just because you love me. This is more than my heart can take but it’s still going to take. You are just simply wonderful and I’ll keep screaming on my heart just like I’m screaming today “I love you, Oluwafunmilayo Ayoyinka Oyemakinde nee Adama”
There it is, I’ve said it and I’ll would never hesitate to say it again and again. With every moment, I’ll lift my heart to say thank You Lord for the wonderful gift of my mum and I trust that You’ll keep her. You have all the power, I’m rest assured “
Yeside Oyemakinde