My Time 4 Talk by Madona Cole-Lacy

Mother’s Day 2012

A grateful Daughter on Mother’s day 2012

I am indeed grateful; to my Mama for all that she has done for me. I am thankful to God for sparing her life as she approaches her 90th birthday, to read these sentiments. I do not take this lightly, for there are many children out there experiencing a void on this day – one that is accompanied by an enormous regret brought on by the fact that they never had the chance to really express their appreciation, love and respect for their mother before she passed on. It is every mother’s wish that their children do not fall under this category!
I still have a vivid recollection of the way my mother interacted with me as a child. She always made time to sing to me, read to me and recite inspirational poems with me. She did not hesitate to put her foot down when I attempted to take chances with her or anyone else for that matter. I must say, Mama was no slouch in the area of discipline. She executed her “motherly role” with finesse, dignity and sensitivity. She taught me by example, that I should be thankful for what I had and that I must never hesitate to share my acquisitions with the “less fortunate”. This could not have been made clearer as I had cause to occasionally rummage through my wardrobe in vain for my ” favorite” Sunday dress; only to be told by Mama that she had donated it to someone who needed it. Even at the ripe old age of 8, I knew my mother had done a good thing and I was glad to be a part of it! That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life – As you reach out to “help” others, don’t do so with things that are worn out that you cannot wait to get rid of.
My mother saw to it that we “remembered to keep the Sabbath day holy” in her household. Sunday was a day of reverence, and the family never missed out on church activities in which she also participated. One highlight of the day for her and my father, I am sure, was our having to respond to the question,” What did the pastor say today?” Yes, we had to give a summary of the sermon every Sunday – no questions asked. I always wondered silently though, why we had to do that when our parents were sitting right there beside us in church. Didn’t they hear the pastor? Needless to say, it was not until I got older that I realized, that exercise was a way of ensuring that we were attentive, and that we had learned something from the sermon!
I have recollections of my mother always doing something to bring people together – to empower them and make them feel good about themselves. I was right in the middle of all that! As the one time President of the YWCA of Waterloo Village in Sierra Leone, I watched and internalized her leadership skills. I in turn, set up a 4-H club comprised of my friends! It didn’t matter that it was not an officially organized club. What mattered was that my mother had told me about the 4-H club and what it stood for, and I wanted a part of that action!
This is just a drop in the bucket of how my mother contributed to the shaping of my life in a positive way. I thank her for being my role model, my disciplinarian, my teacher, my confidant, my hero and friend (…now that I am an adult and a mother myself). Mama’s words of wisdom and insightful take on life in the 21st Century make her most relevant in my life today and every day. I thank, love and honor my Mama for being the champion of a Mother that she is!

I want to seize this opportunity to say ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ to all women out there who have at one time or the other touched the lives of children in a positive way. Thank you to the men in our lives for assuming the co-mothering role whenever the occasion calls for it …in addition to the excellent fatherly role they play. This mother thanks all mothers and women who have invited her children to share their clean spirit with them at one time or the other. God Bless you.