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16.05.2016 Feature Article

Celebration Of A Saint (My Mother)-Yonne Martha Alung

Celebration Of A Saint My Mother-Yonne Martha Alung
16.05.2016 LISTEN

Yonne as I called you, this is your last born, Kotoi (Unconquerable) you called me.

Greetings from the blessed tongues of your children

Greetings from the sacred tongues of your grandchildren

Greetings from the hallowed tongues of your great-grandchildren

Greetings from the beautiful tongues of the people of Zaago and surroundings

Greetings from the phenomenal tongues of the people of Aseembun Sapeliga, your father’s village

Last Sunday, 8th May, 2016 was Mother’s Day and Mma, that day I did not write anything about it to you. Reason was simple. A better date was heralding for a long conversion with you. Today, 14th May, 2016 is exactly twenty (20) years when you were called back home by your true Father.

On Tuesday, 14th May, 1996, around 8am you shocked the nerves of many and you disturbed the spirits of all people who knew you. You responded to the home-call of your Father in the firmaments. May your soul continue to rest in peace. You died in the arms of your children, Akparibo, Stephen and sister Poasan. She had moved from her husband’s house to come and take care of you. These three of your children were the ones who were home at that time. The rest of us were not home. This morning when I recalled the description of your suffering few hours before your departure as was described to me by my elder sister Poasan, I could not hold myself together. You died at a time I needed you most. I never had enough of you. Maybe, my siblings had because they were men and women when you left but what about me, mummy?

Mma or if you prefer your native and maiden name (Yonne) which we, your children called you, I would go by that.

On Tuesday, 14th May, 1996, when you were leaving for your father’s house, you announced to me and I really felt and heard loud your announcement. On that fateful day, no sooner than I took my Agricultural Science Book to go and study since the following day, 15th June, 1996 was the beginning of my final year exams at the G.C.E. O’level when your spirit came and shook my chest strongly, something I had never experienced in my life till that day. I could not study further. I just had to take my books and leave. Mma, from the time your death was announced to me spiritually and the time I took my books and left, I still remember those incidents but I do not remember what happened again for the rest of that day, not because something bad happened to me, no. I just do not remember how I spent the rest of that day.

Mma, as you know I was in Kumasi at that time and my older siblings did not inform me of your death because they knew I was just about to begin my final year exams, so I was never informed about your departure immediately. I was informed a month after I had finished my exams. I then remembered what happened to me on that eventful day you died and I realized you were the one, who shook and shocked me when you were leaving. I felt your death but did not know what it meant till I was told of it. If one has not experienced the true existence of the spirit one would never know it really exists. Mummy, natural as it was, as a human being I was hurt to the bones but I could not do anything to bring you back.

What really pained me was the fact that since I left home in 1990 as a young boy I never had enough time to sit down to chat with you again. I was sent home in August, 1994 to visit you and daddy (Naab) but the days I spent with you people were not many. The last time, I saw you, was in February, 1995 when my father, your husband died and I was home with my elder brothers. Though you were not well, you never told me that I was never going to see you again, only for you to leave on a day just before the beginning of my final year exam. Dad and you blessed me in the morning of April, 1990 before I left home for the Western Region where brother, Francis was stationed, but I never knew your blessings were going to benefit people, who never toiled for me. I still remember the days you came back home late from the market and still had to prepare food for us. I still remember the countless things you did for me. I still remember the hard times we went through.

You really did well by informing me of your departure though I understood it a month after you were gone. It confirmed the love you had for me and for us as you never discriminated among your children.

Twenty (20) years have come like it was just yesterday and we cannot let the grace that we have enjoyed from God pass by without celebrating you once again as we do each year. Since you left in 1996, life has never been full of joys but we are most grateful to God, it has been graceful. Mma, many things, sweet and bitter have happened, as you know your first son and second born, Joseph Anane joined you and dad in 1998 and your second son and third born, Akparibo Alung also joined you and dad in 2003. We know you, two needed them by your side, there was nothing we could do. Their deaths were very big blows to us yet we had to endure them and had to adapt to the realities of life.

Supplanting, their lives you have got some grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mma, Anane died when his wife was pregnant, a baby boy was born two weeks later and today, he has grown up and almost a man now.

Today, 14th May, 2016 we still remember you and what you stood for. You stood for love. You stood for generosity and kindness. You stood against discrimination among human beings. You stood for oneness and unity. You stood for honesty and truth. You stood for cleanness. You hated dirt and dirty things. You stood for hard-work and diligence. You were principled. You were compassionate.

Yonne, I aspire and I aspire to be as generosity and kind as you were but it has not been easy yet I keep trying my best. I do not know how you did yours so easily. You could give all you had out and remained without. How did you do it? You have one of your children, maybe one of your chosen or darling boys at childhood, who has taken generosity beyond boundaries. He has worked his whole life taking care of people needs and taking care of people’s children. I’m talking about your son Francis Xavier Ayeebo. (Apambil) He needs your intercession and prayers to do more. He is now an accomplished kind and generous man. I also have a friend, whose name begins with P but I cannot mention it fully to you as your message will be read by others. He is generous to the core. I learn from brother Francis and from my friend.

Last year, 2015 was twenty years, our father (Naab) your husband passed on and we celebrated his life in the house at the village and many people came around as if he had just passed on. Today, we planned doing the same thing for you as we did in previous years but it would not be possible and I know you understand this time round as the reasons are not bad. It will be done but not today. I hope you are not disturbed about this?

How can we not remember a woman, who could have become the winner of any beauty contest at any level because of your beauty, your wisdom, your intelligence and diligence and your appealing humility?

You were as kind and generous as Jesus Christ
You were as priceless as a mother
You were as beautiful as heavenly sight of light.
You were as adorable and admirable as a new-born baby.

You were as precious as diamond and pearls
You were as essential as water
You were like fire to us, you energized and warmed us.

You were like the earth to us. You moulded us into complete children of yours.

You were as needful as the air we breathe
As I sit down to write this piece to you, Mma, I recollected the number of times you appeared to me in dreams, especially those ones that I cried and wept in the dreams and woke up and they were real and tears strolled down my cheeks. Stoic as you know your son to be, I’m still a human being. The way you announced your death to me and the date you died, a day before my final year exams, are always fresh any time I remember your death.

Ten years ago, in 2006, 14th May fell on Mother’s Day. Being a Sunday I left home around 6am for church but before I got to the church premises I called one of your grandsons, specifically the second born and second son of your first child, sister Abugr and reminded him that day was your tenth anniversary. He did not let me finish. He told me that you had appeared to him in a dream the night before and asked him to do something, which he told me and I know you remember what you asked him to do. You appeared to your other children too, I was told.

I believe you were the one who asked me to call him first that morning, since we are many in the family and I always remind as many as I can whenever your anniversary approaches. Yesterday, I called your other children to remind them. I also sent whatsapp messages to a good number of your grandchildren.

The little ones in the house yearn for you to be alive though they never knew you, they have heard of how you handled and nursed the older ones who met you.

Mummy, we would continue to remember you. We would continue to celebrate you. We would continue to nurse and grow what you planted.

Saint as you were, we want you to pray for us. Saints as you and dad were, we want you, both to pray for us because we know you are all alive enjoying at home.

We try to do our bit and hope we would be remembered as part of history and stories that will be written after this life, so we cannot but must live the styles of life you taught us.

My message to my mum, Yonne Martha Alung, on the twentieth anniversary of her death

We would meet again.
Those of you who know me, I’m a replica of my mother in complexion and in many other parts inside out.

©2016, Godwin-Xavier Ayeebo

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