By Onochie Anibeze
This picture that tells this story went missing at the very moment I needed it most. I searched frantically for it then, desperate to find it, desperate to hold on to something tangible as my heart struggled to accept your departure. But providence, in its quiet wisdom, probably thought otherwise. And so, it allowed me to find it now – one full year after that painful search came to nothing.
Mama, you loved flowers. And you gave them generously. You loved us – your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren. And you showed it in countless ways. You loved your siblings, and you made that love visible.
Without even realising it, you were teaching us how to love. You were special in a way words still struggle to capture. You loved everyone around you and touched so many lives.
That is why I wanted this picture so badly when you joined the angels one year ago. I wanted it to tell just one part of your story—the love you radiated and shared so freely. Flowers are a powerful language of love, and Mama, you spoke that language with passion. Everything you did was rooted in love. One year on, that love has not dimmed. It still burns strongly in us. It lives in us. It will never die in us. Since that 24th day of December, 2024, not a single week has passed without you visiting me in my dreams – at least four times. Sometimes, the dreams come daily.
And in all of them, Mama, it is always about love. About good things. About the beautiful past, the hard years, our struggles and our sweet victories. They are gentle dreams. Sweet dreams.
Not one of them has ever brought me despair. Not one has brought me pain. Only the deep regret that you are no longer with us physically. That realisation is sad. Profoundly sorrowful. But even in this sorrow, we know you are still with us in spirit. We feel your love strongly, unmistakably.
A few weeks ago, Vivian called me and said, ”Oni, Mama is in heaven. I have been seeing her in my dreams. I saw her among those going to heaven a couple of times. When you pray, ask her to pray for us, for she is in heaven.”
Chike says the same. He has had many sweet dreams about you too.
Mama, you have not left us. Your presence remains. Your love still inspires us.
The other day, you made me laugh throughout the day.
In my dream, you were telling visitors about the naughty things I did while growing up. I could hardly believe some of the things you said I did but I vividly remember the last story you told our visitors.
You recalled one incident in particular that had our visitors laughing until their ribs hurt. You told them how, during one holiday, I inflicted a head injury on our neighbour’s son while fighting.
All the parents had gone to work, leaving only the children in the compound. His brothers came looking for revenge.
Terrified, I ran into our house as they banged endlessly on the door.
Then you reminded them how I found a piece of chalk, ground it, and passed it to them through the window, telling them it was M&B powder. In those days, M&B powder was commonly used to treat open wounds. It had antiseptic properties and even antibiotics. They believed me.
They applied the ground chalk to the wound. That calmed their anger and saved me from a serious beating. The visitors laughed in disbelief, wondering how a boy of about nine could be so full of tricks. Their loud laughter woke me up.
What a dream. Mama, you have been making me happy in my dreams. You still bring me joy. Even now. If only dreams were real, you would be here, not there. But God’s ways are not our ways. We submit totally to His will. We live by His grace. He loves unconditionally and that same love is what you preached and practiced throughout your 94 years on earth.
That is why, when you joined the angels, I searched desperately for that picture of you standing by the flowers, the flowers that spoke your language of love.
The picture eluded me then. But one year on, I have found it. What a beauty you were. And that beauty shines clearly in this picture. It is well, Mama.
Moses misses you. Charly misses you. Thomas is with you. Papa is with you. Angels United.
Chike and Vivian dream of you. We all love you. Pray for us, mama. You did so all your days on earth. Your grand children knew you as a prayer warrior. They still remember you as the mama who prayed all day. You prayed for our health and progress. Thank you, mama.
Wednesday will be December 24, the day you left us last year. But your love still shines on us. Thank you, mama. We love you.
May God continue to rest you, Mama. ONE LOVE.
