I saw the picture of a South African photographer Mark Dumbleton captured a powerful image of a lioness after a violent fight with a predator.
She lost one of her teeth in the struggle but managed to protect her cub, ensuring his survival.
In the photograph, her face is stained with blood as she embraces her little one. The cub, named Ali, appears unaware of his mother’s pain and sacrifice—but one day, when he grows and takes on the responsibility of protecting the pride, he will understand the depth of her devotion.
This striking image is a reminder of the sacrifices my mother made to keep me alive and responsible.
I lost my mother on June 1, 2024, buried her on June 8, 2024, and celebrated her life on November 30, 2024, but the memories of her struggles, pains and sacrifices she made to keep me safe and sound kept replaying in my heart.
Growing up was a big struggle. Everyone concluded that I was going to be a source of shame to her.
Nothing reasonable could be said of me. It was so bad that I was even ashamed of myself. I see myself as less of who I am even though I have so much faith within me that someday I’m going to impact and implant the world positively.
I have the mind of a lion and the heart of a chicken. I struggle through life with no tangible educational background to achieve and sustain the life, the dreams and the visions I embody.
I was a laughingstock to everyone. Friends and family avoid me. No one wants to relate with me or associate with me.
Even my father disowned me because I refused to listen to his instructions to leave Lagos back to Abeokuta.
Well, I was not disobeying him, I was only obeying the higher authority; the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And His commandment I will never trade for anything.
Everyone lost faith in me except my mother. Every phone call is a prayer session, every visit is a deeper discussion about life and prayers.
Every last cash in her bag she’s willing to hand over to me just to see me doing better and greater than the previous years.
I saw my mother selling her belongings to fund my education. I saw my mother crying herself out when my Landlord threatened to kill me if I didn’t leave his house.
Whatever faith I have in God today I inherit it from my mother. She has a crazy faith in God and I see that faith manifesting over and over again.
I live a contended life. I’m never moved by what someone is having that I’m lacking. Never. I lack nothing. What I don’t have, I don’t need. If I need something, God will make it available.
I did not learn that from any Pastor or church; I learnt that from my mother. Very contended. When Apostle Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” He was talking about my mother.
Living a quiet life is not what I learnt from anyone but from my mother. Everyone who knew my mother when she was alive will agree with the fact that she lived a quiet life.
Just as Apostle Paul described it in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 saying, “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.”
Everyone who knows me in person will testify to the fact that I’m one person who lives a quiet life, mind his own business and works hard with his hands.
A kind of life I have come to realize is an enviable life. A life that is so difficult for anyone to understand and untrainable for the immature.
According to the Bible, an enviable life is blessed, fortunate, and prosperous and is characterized by life joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation.
A life Jesus Christ described in Matthew 5:9–11 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
If you understand this, you will understand life and life in God.
A mother’s role in a child’s life is invaluable and plays a significant impact on their physical, emotional, and psychological development. A mother is crucial in a child’s life.
Emotional Development
*Nurturing and Care
Mothers provide unconditional love, care, and nurturing, which helps children develop emotional security and a sense of belonging.
*Emotional Intelligence
Mothers teach children to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions, essential for emotional intelligence.
*Empathy and Compassion
Mothers model empathy and compassion, helping children develop these essential life skills.
Cognitive Development
*Language and Communication
Mothers play a critical role in language development, teaching children to communicate effectively.
*Problem-solving and Critical Thinking
Mothers encourage children to think critically and develop problem-solving skills.
*Education and Learning
Mothers often take an active role in their child’s education, supporting their learning and academic development.
Physical Development
*Nutrition and Health
Mothers typically manage their children’s nutrition and health, ensuring they receive proper care and attention.
*Safety and Protection
Mothers provide a safe and protective environment, shielding their children from harm.
*Physical Activity and Play
Mothers encourage physical activity and play, essential for healthy growth and development.
Social Development
*Social Skills and Relationships
Mothers teach children essential social skills, such as sharing, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
*Role Modeling and Values
Mothers model values, behaviours, and attitudes, shaping their child’s moral compass. In this aspect, some mothers need to be extra careful. Your child is looking up to you.
*Community and Cultural Involvement
Mothers often introduce children to their community and cultural heritage, broadening their social horizons.
Long-Term Impact
*Attachment and Bonding
A mother’s love and care foster a strong attachment and bonding, essential for a child’s emotional well-being.
*Resilience and Adaptability
Mothers help children develop resilience and adaptability, crucial for navigating life’s challenges.
*Future Relationships and Parenting
A mother’s influence shapes a child’s future relationships and parenting style, perpetuating a cycle of love, care, and nurturing.
A mother’s role in a child’s life is multifaceted and far-reaching, impacting their emotional, cognitive, physical, and social development. The bond between a mother and child is unique and irreplaceable, with a lasting impact on the child’s life.
So many people believed in the lies that Women are weaker vessels and so unfortunate that even some women themselves believed the same.
However, the concept of “weaker vessels” is often associated with the Bible verse 1 Peter 3:7, which says, “Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding manner, showing honour to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Please, note that anyone who can hinder your prayers is never a weaker vessel but a stronger one both physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
In this context, we were made to believe the term “weaker vessel” refers to the physical and emotional differences between men and women. Here are some possible interpretations:
Physical Differences
Women generally have less physical strength and endurance than men, making them more vulnerable in certain situations.
Emotional Differences
Women are often more emotionally expressive and empathetic than men, which can make them more sensitive to stress, conflict, and emotional pain.
Social and Cultural Differences
Women have historically faced more societal and cultural constraints, such as limited access to education, employment, and healthcare, which can affect their overall well-being and resilience.
It’s essential to recognize that the concept of “weaker vessels” is not about implying inferiority or subservience. Rather, it’s about acknowledging and respecting the differences between men and women, and striving for mutual understanding, support, and empowerment.
In modern times, the idea of “weaker vessels” has evolved to encompass a more nuanced understanding of gender roles, relationships, and social dynamics. Here are some key takeaways:
Mutual respect and support
Relationships thrive when both partners respect and support each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and differences.
Emotional intelligence and empathy
Developing emotional intelligence and empathy helps us better understand and navigate the complexities of human relationships.
Communication and conflict resolution
Effective communication and conflict resolution skills are essential for building and maintaining healthy, fulfilling relationships.
Personal growth and development
Encouraging and supporting each other’s personal growth and development can help foster a deeper, more meaningful connection.
Please, note that the fact that women are called weaker vessels doesn’t mean they are weak.
In my over twenty years of studying women, nature and life. I can boldly say that women are smarter, wiser and far more industrious and spiritual than men.
All the men who had become somebody in life did as a result of either their mother, their sister or their wife.
Moses became a prophet because his mother and sister saved him.
Abraham became wealthy because of his wife Serah
Isaac became wealthy because of his wife
David became King because his wife helped him
Solomon became king because his mother helped him
Lemuel became king because his mother helped him
Samuel became a prophet because his mother helped him
Olamide one of the Nigerian best musicians and producers is a star today because his grandmother’s mother helped him.
WizKid and Davido are stars today because their mother helped them.
Oyedepo is what he is today because his grandmother mother and his wife helped him.
I can go on and on. No man and I mean no man can be anything in life without the help of a Woman. But any Woman can be all she wants to be without the help of a Man.
We, Men, think that Women need us, but in reality, we both need each other.
We, Men, need Women to unlock the spiritual coverings over us so that the earth can respond to us in the physical.
While the Women need the Men to physically populate the earth and take charge of it.
Let us respect individual’s capacities and specializations and stop domineering one another.
Many people have no idea of the price their mothers are paying just to give them a better perspective on life and make them better persons.
Those who understand spiritual things will agree with me that when there is a need to get to the root of a matter, it is a person’s mother’s name that is required not the father’s name. Have you asked yourself why?
Mothers unlock and lock the spiritual doors over their husbands and children.
I speak with lots of mothers who are suffering in their marriages and honestly, you don’t want to have an idea of what many of them are going through in the hands of their husbands.
Most importantly those that are married to a narcissistic husband. It’s horrible. I don’t wish any of my children or grandchildren till the end of the world will have anything to do with any of such habits. They are evil.
Reading Kelly Hasino’s post on the South African photographer Mark Dumbleton made me remember the pains, the agonies, the price and the shame my mother went through just to give myself and my siblings a life.
Reading about the Loneliness of fighting a Predator just to save her little Cub made me remember how my mother fought endlessly just to save us all.
I can’t remember my mother closing her eyes in the night to sleep. She prayed all night all her life. The only time she closed her eyes in the night to sleep, was the night she breathed her last.
Friends, appreciate and celebrate your mother now that she’s alive. Forget about all the lies some idiots are telling you that your mother is the one after your progress. Honour your mother. Make her happy. Take good care of her while she’s still alive. You have no understanding of all she’s doing or has done to keep you alive.
If you have the opportunity to read this post, please, make a call to your mother and wish her well. If your mother is sitting close to you, hug her, say thank you to her for being your mother and tell her how much you love her and appreciate her.
We love you, mothers.
Sam Adeoye