Martha Olawale

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

The role of a mother is crucial in the life of her children. How she handles situations and responds to the world around her affects the way her children will act when they grow up. I was privileged to have had a mother who loved God and fought like a warrior for the lives of her children and the people God brings her way. She loved without boundaries and governed her home with strength. When you look into her eyes, you’ll see the kindness that drowns out any form of shame coupled with strength that takes on giants.

I was searching the internet for how to say “my daughter in Spanish” recently. Among the top searches before I could type “in Spanish” was “My daughter hates me.” When I saw that, I stopped because it grieved my heart. How can a relationship that should be one of the most treasured be tainted with the word “hate?” It was so unexpected that it affected my mood the entire day. I was sad to see how far the world has deteriorated to the point that something so special is corrupted because we are losing our grip on our strengths as women.

Some of the world’s most outstanding leaders, athletes, scientists, and preachers have mothers who championed values that formed the bedrock upon which they built their careers. A mother-daughter/mother-son relationship is a gift from God and should be approached intentionally. The power we have as women in helping shape our world starts with whom we are walking with and how we lead behind the walls of our homes. When Christ paves the road we walk, it will be easy to guide through the eyes of a Father who loved enough to die for an underserved world.

I treasure the kindness, grace, and wisdom my mother sprinkled along the way as I now journey through the path that she walked. Against what the world would have us believe, within mothers lies the spirit of excellence to mold the next generation to impact the world with positivity and brilliance through godly examples. Whatever role God calls us to within and without our homes, when we walk with Jesus, we can run a million miles.