My Mother’s Wrinkled hands
I was home for the 2019 elections and made time to go seat with my mother and chat. She always fill me in on the mood of the village; and all those I should give money. Yes, give money, just like that.
As we talked I looked at her hands; shrinking, wrinkled, twisted. The memories of every year of my life flowed back. I recall how those hands toiled to feed and cloth me. Deprived of care so I could go to school. I recall all the things she taught me with those hands; cook, wash, bath, fetch firewood, make a fire, weed grass in the farm, and swim. Yes my mother taught me how to wade overflooded rivers on the way to or from farm. How to have fun carrying banana in the rain, and how to process palm oil from the fruits.
Now I know how helpless I was when these hands craddled me. I can now understand the worry and anxiety on that brow as she looked at the helpless infant in her then youthful hands, and how she must have prayed God to let her live long to see me grow strong. Those worries left their mark on her now wrinkled brow.
For every wrinkle I put on these hands; for every line on your brow; for all the scars on your hands, and for every twist on those fingers, mum, I owe you my life. I pledge every sinew in my body in strive to help you bear the scars I cultivated on these hands, and pray that God give us more days on this side of creation for me to put some more glow on that brow.
I thank the Almighty God for the chance given you to see me grow; to see our circumstances change. For the chance given me to sooth some of the chaff on these hands, put a roof over your head, and let you not worry about money, the glory and honour goes to Him alone.
For the days we yet have seen, though vain be my effort, mum, I pledge every ounce in me to strive to pay back, directly to you, and to those that it pleases Him to use you as a vehicle of blessing.
To these wrinkled hands, I remain grateful, and my life I pledge in service and obedience. Ooh how I crave once more to be cradled in them without a care.
Happy Mother’s Day Missy