Just like that, we have two more posts after this 🥹. I thought long and hard about what to write today. I had two topics in mind, but I felt that the timing wasn’t right. I knew I wanted to write about my Mum because, beyond her being my mother, there are some characteristics I’ve observed that have transcended all through my years that show her heart and the kind of person that she is. 

If you already know me well, you will know that my mum means the world to me. And today I want to share some of the profound lessons I’ve learned from observing my mum and how I have carried them to heart. When I wrote about how I show up, what I didn’t write then was how my mom was the model I saw growing up, and these are a few lessons I can share.

The principle of love: 

My Mum loves, and she loves to the full. I think God gave her a special dose of it for her assignment. She loves those who are hers and those who don’t belong to her. Even when she gets burned by people, her forgiveness is so fast that sometimes I’m angry on her behalf, and she’ll go on to say, “Seun, no one can offend me.” I sometimes keep the grudge on her behalf. Sorry, Mum 😂. My mum loves freely, and it’s beautiful to see.

The principle of honor:
I learned how to honour from my mum and how not to look down on anyone. Following my mum to work from such a young age showed me a different side of her that I would otherwise not have seen. My mum would greet and treat everyone with so much respect that it became second nature. No one is too high up there, and no one is at the bottom of the ladder. In her eyes, God created everyone the same, and for that reason, everyone is accorded the honour they deserve, from the janitor to the chief medical officer. I saw how she related to the lady selling something outside the hospital, how she knows the names of her children and sometimes knows what is happening to them

The principle of community:

It’s a running joke in my house that because of my mum, we can never have a small celebration. You see, the love and honour she naturally gives translates into community. I’ve seen time and again how she has shown up for people. I’m actually curious about my mum’s contact list because it’s plenty 😂. My mum is the queen of showing up and fiercely loyal. And one of the perks is the gift of connection that has given her. My mum might not have an answer to a solution, but I can almost bet that she has someone on her contact list whom she can call or reach out to, and it would be solved. 

The principle of hard work:

You can’t be idle where Mrs. Newton is. Your hands and/or your mind must find something to do. It’s the reason why she couldn’t let me stay home when I didn’t get my degree of choice. What do you mean, stay home? To do what? Growing up, our house became the correctional center for relatives who were stubborn or struggling. They will literally be sent to our home to be under my mum’s tutelage for a while because underneath the love, honor, respect, etc. is a very principled woman. If you were rude before, not under my mum; if you were lazy or just stubborn, not under my mum. The first thing that shocks them is that my mum can love and still correct us. And I see how they literally transform after a few years of living with us. It’s not just for recalcitrant people. It’s the principle she carries everywhere. Children whose parents initially didn’t want to send them to school ended up going all the way to the university because my mum encouraged their parents and didn’t relent until they took action. Young mentees who come under her tutelage and they go on to do great things. My mum herself is not relenting on her dreams but is committed to pursuing everything she desires. The reason why I don’t give up easily is that I see my mum and I’m encouraged to keep going. 

I’m so proud of my mum, not just as her daughter but because of the genuinely good and kind person that she is, and I’m just privileged that she’s my mum. I know she’s a mother to many, but she’s also mine, and I love her so much. 

I’ve spent years observing my mum; I learned kindness from her, I learned how to give from her, and I learned how to love God by just seeing her pure devotion. I remember saying to myself that if I can be half of what my mum is, I’ve made it for real. While I cannot do everything she does because there are a few people we need to give a knock on their head, and my mum will say Forgive them😂.I’m not ready for that part yet 😂.

I’ll take these lessons, and I hope that they continue to guide and shape who I become. I hope you can do so too.

I love you, Mrs Newton. 🥰

I really do 🥹.

See you all tomorrow!