I talked about how children are adorable, cute and most beautiful creatures God has given to mankind. But there is another set of amazing creatures that God has given the privilege to stay and live longer before they are called to glory. These are the old people; both men and women. When an old person lives longer, let's say crossing over 80+ years, we call that a great grace.
Aside from children being a blessing to mankind as they step into the world, the older ones who have lived a good life and died would be given a befitting burial. Though it's painful seeing them leave this world forever, they have lived the best and long life with experiences, lessons and wisdom to give the young ones that are left behind.
Yoruba adage will say that what an old person sees while sitting down, a young child can never, even if it takes such a person stretching his or her neck to know what is going on because the elderly ones have lived with so many experiences to give to those behind them to learn from their mistakes.
I love old people and I feel happy seeing them around me. One thing I would never do is disrespect them because we believe when you do, whatever they pronounced from their mouth will come to pass. So, people like me, are always careful not to trespass or cross our boundaries.
The first time I lived with my paternal grandmother was when we were very young. I remembered I and my younger sister were taken to her while in Primary school, and we had a holiday from school. Grandma is the one elderly woman I have been close to till today. As of then, before she retired, she was a teacher who had a passion for teaching. Perhaps I took that from her.
She has this tenderness when teaching us, especially Yoruba language which is our mother's tongue, and strict when she had to so that we would understand what she was teaching us. We learnt to write and read in Yoruba from her and people were always amazed at how young we were then to be able to read and write in Yoruba fluently. Give it to my grandma.
Whenever we travel home, I am always around Mama because of the stories about her life she tells us. It was from her I understand that being submissive to one's husband is the best tip for enjoying your marriage. Mama enjoyed her marriage before her husband died many years ago, over 20 years now. She always prides in her words that she and her husband never had a third party to settle their fights, not even their children because no one would know what is going on, and before the day ends, they have resolved whatever misunderstanding between them. She said this is why no one knew their secrets till her husband died.
Things I love and enjoy about her...
Hardworking: I have never seen such energy in a woman like her. She doesn't condone laziness, and as she would say, "any child who is lazy around her, she would send away, not minding if it's her child or not". If you are lazy, she deals with you by not eating for a particular period until she stops it. Even now, it hurt her so much that she has gotten to that stage where she cannot do anything again. Mama is 94 and cannot do those things she was doing before. When she was still very active, there is nothing she would not do. She enjoyed cooking for the whole family thrice a day and would teach, and still focus on her tailoring skill at home. Now, she wished the strength like in the past is there now.
Accommodating: Mama is very hospitable. I learnt this from her. She started adopting children when she got married and took care of them till they grew up. Whenever I am at home, I receive different testimonies of her from people; how she took them in and gave them the life they have now. She treated everyone equally, both her children and other people's children. Today, she is always enjoying the reward and her home never went dry of food because they keep remembering her always. This is something I have always done and promised to do. I have decided to adopt when I get married too even if I have my children, and would treat them equally because I learnt from mama how rewarding it is to care for other people who aren't yours.
Teacher: Just like I said above, grandma is very soft and patient when teaching. Though there are times she would be strict just to make sure people around her understood her. She was and still is a great teacher. I have learnt a lot from her when she calls her grandchildren to the parlour, sits us down and starts lecturing us about life and how to live the best of it.
A disciplinarian: Her yes is always yes. She disciplines according to what the scripture says. Her discipline doesn't go against the word of God and this is something I have enjoyed and loved about her. She believes in never wasting food, if you do, you will be starved till she is satisfied to give you food.
Smiling: Mama smiles a lot! Yes, this is what her children learnt from her and is being passed across to her grandchildren. Wherever you see mama, she would open her teeth, not too wide with her face glooming. When she smiles, she looks more beautiful. Even when she is worried, and is obvious, when she sees us around her, her smile will captivate everyone in the house, forgetting her worries. I don't think I have seen her worry more than smile because everything about her is a word she would always say, "all is well".
Praying: A godly woman she is! Now, her eyesight is still in good condition as she doesn't use eyeglasses to read her Bible. When we were young and still living with her, she still does it with other children with her presently, she would instruct us to fetch two big kegs of water and make us sit around them while we start reading Psalm all over again. We could stay there for 2-3 hours chanting the book of Psalms to the waters, and in the end, she calls it, Holy Water which has been effective whenever we are sick. She taught her children the importance of prayer, and our parents in return taught us because we do not miss observing morning and night devotion.
These are a few of what I love and enjoy about my grandma and thank God she is still alive. I want to keep seeing these traits in her while we also continue in her step.
