The Knees of A Praying Mother at 67-
Ayodele Awojobi
Friends, do you always return to default settings whenever you go back to your parents? Well! For me, I do anytime I go on a visit to my mother Mrs Atinuke Olatundun Awojobi. What do I mean?
The knock on your door at 6am and Mummy’s ‘good morning’ those days meant you should get up for morning devotion. She was our alarm. But things changed when I started living on my own. Any few days I stay overnight with my mum, the factory settings must go back to the default setting. I no dey set any alarm kan kan 😀
Anyone’s success in our house is shared by all and vice versa. Anyone’s project is executed by all. Mummy may even declare prayer and fasting sef. She is no doubt an afàdúra jagun, a prayer warrior.
I’ve had so many ups and downs in life and my Mum like any other mother doesn’t like seeing her son unhappy. She could be moody for days and I wouldn’t like it. Some years ago, I executed a project and didn’t succeed until the 4th attempt. She was always in the Church everyday till the very evening I broke a good news to her. She started rolling on the floor.
Last year was another time to execute another project and I decided to do it a different way this time. I wasn’t going to let Mummy know till after the outcome of the project. I didn’t want her worrying. I even told my wife, Tolu not to let her know.
I didn’t tell my brother who was always in the know of everything about me. There was even a time I went past his house but didn’t bother to check on him.
Guess what! Reconsidering the situation, I changed my mind and told her about it before I knew the outcome. 🤷♂️ She screamed “Ayodele!! Why didn’t you tell me? Well, you have your reasons. By God’s grace, it will come out well. The grace of God will speak for you” Amen.
Surprisingly, the very night I told her, around 11.30pm, I got the outcome of the project and to the glory of God, it was a positive one. I shared the news with my Madam and Femi who was with us then. I couldn’t keep it to myself. I wanted to share the good news with my Mum and brother.
I called Ẹ̀gbọ́n and he didn’t pick. I knew he was already sleeping. I felt calling Mummy at that time wouldn’t be a good idea, make I leave Mama oni Màmá to sleep but then again I said she is used to it after all there were times her husband would wake her up in the middle of the night for an urgent Obstetric Scan et al so I made the call.
Initially she didn’t pick. I called the second time and the phone was almost going to drop when she picked. I was expecting a sleepy voice but guess what her voice was that of someone who was awake. I broke the news and the next thing she said was
‘Ayodele, praise God! Do you believe I’ve been on my knees for the past 20 minutes praying for you!!!’
Happy 67th Birthday to you our prayer warrior mother! Mrs Atinuke Olatundun Awojobi. Many happy returns of the day ma. I love you.
Ayodele Awojobi is the Medical Director, Awojobi Clinic Eruwa Oyo State Nigeria and a Resident Doctor in Family Medicine.