Pius Nsabe
In recent times, the home is not what it should be with regards to God’s standard for Christian homes. A lot of homes are in shambles, with the husband and the wife going in different directions on issues relating to the family.
Many wayward and morally bankrupt children are products of the family these days. Tragically, in today’s society, poor value is placed on the family, and this seems an unimportant obligation to some.
In the most extreme cases, where relationships in the homes are not well managed, breakdown of the homes arises, leading to divorce cases.
This informed the position of the Wife of the Alaafin of Oyo , Ayaba Abiwunmi Owoade, who was at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Oyo District Headquarters on Sunday in commemoration of World Mother’s Day. The event , with the theme, The Strength of Mother’s Faith, was organised by the Foursquare Women International.
The theme anchoring today’s celebration was drawn from Exodus Chapter 2, verses one to four, which focuses on a woman whose name may not have echoed in public , but whose faith resounded in heaven like Jochebed , the mother of Moses. A release issued by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, quoted Ayaba Owoade as saying that ” as women, they constitute a dynamic breeding ground within the framework of any perspective for change. According to her, ” a wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. To build a happy home successfully, a woman has a major role to play and it is also of great importance to know that it takes wisdom to build a happy home.
“‘A woman is expected to love her husband and to love her children. In building a happy home, a woman should display a high level of love to her husband and children. By this, I mean unconditional love. A woman should not show love to her husband mainly because of what she is getting from him or based on the facts that things are rosy. Likewise a woman must be available to her husband and should not deny him of his right”‘.
Ayaba Owoade pointed out that while it is most clear today due to many factors, that women have comparable qualities and strengths as men, God has ordained that wives should submit to their husbands. Said she, ” the woman has the role of being a wife and a mother, rearing godly children, and teaching her children in Godly ways. It is their responsibility to teach and train the children—both boys and girls. Indeed, a good wife is meant to be a trusted confidant and a valuable counsellor to her husband. God expects us to be trusted helpers and wise counselors’’.
In her sermon , wife of the Church Overseer , Pastor Mrs Temitope Olanrewaju , said motherhood is perhaps one of the most gratifying and difficult experiences in life. She noted that every mother strives to do this, whether it is to give the best of both to her children and bring them up to become responsible, caring, and successful.
Said she, “ one of the most important traits of a good mother is unconditional love. Love in all its forms should be unconditional, selfless, and nurturing—a strong emotional foundation for the children.
“Hug the children, say kind words, and do small things to let them know they are worthy of love. Be patient, seek divine guidance , and understanding during challenging times, showing empathy and compassion.
She noted that when children experience unconditional love, their ability to cope with the world around them improves, facilitating their self-esteem, emotional resilience, and self-worth. In her welcome address, the President of Foursquare Women International , Mrs Veronica Sola Oyegbola, said the story of Jochebed captures the essence of motherhood which entails sleepless nights, silent tears, and fervent prayers .
“It reminds every woman present that strength is not always loud. Sometimes it whispers through sacrifice . Sometimes it wails in faith . Sometimes it watches from the riverbank , believing God will do what only He can”, she added.