Mother, my mother

I met Aunty Emma on Legon campus sometime in 2003 where we were both students and residents of Mensah Sarbah Hall as well as members of GHAMSU.

The relationship between us was one of mother and daughter. She would encourage me to attend all GHAMSU programs even when I assumed I was overwhelmed with academic work. She encouraged me to marry my now husband and always said she knew he was a good man – she was right.

When I was hit by tragedy sometime in 2006, I was shattered and broken and I called to inform her. She came to me and encouraged me using her personal life as an example. She said God knows exactly what He is doing, He is still in charge. I was out of that grief after her visit.

The last time we spoke which was barely two weeks to her demise, she sent me a video and told me she wants me to be like this, ie. take a lead position with the women’s fellowship. She added that the Lord himself will guide me.

Aunty Emma, you worked so hard to promote the women’s fellowship making it attractive for the younger generation. There were days when we would argue on some practices in the Women’s Fellowship, we both agreed that some of them were archaic and must be reviewed.

When we had programs for the Women’s Fellowship and some members grumbled or criticized, you remained calm still wearing that smile, I asked you how you do it and you explained that the scarf we wear covers the ear symbolically, that it meant you do not hear negativity, let alone respond to it.

Aunty Emma, my mother, you were my support, my any-day-ran-to, it never crossed my mind that you would leave this early, I am pained and words fail me at this point.

At the one week celebration I saw members of the Women’s Fellowship in uniform. I walked to the front expecting the usual hug and the big smile, happy to see me and many others, but no, there was no hug, no smile just sorrowful, mournful faces.

Mother, my mother, are you truly gone? What am I supposed to do without you? Why didn’t you say goodbye? This is so painful to take, mother, my mother….😭😩

You indeed fought the good fight, Rest peacefully in the bosom of our Lord.