My Parents, My Heroes.
When I think of my life, in terms of all I have come to be and the things I am still desperately chasing after, I know that the foundations were laid by my parents. My parents have been instrumental in shaping my beliefs, principles, and values.
My parents are missionaries, so you can expect I was groomed and brought up to know Jesus. My parents were (and still are) very intentional and particular about the schools we attended, the friends we kept, the TV shows we were allowed to watch, and the events we were allowed to grace. I was an active member of the children’s church, where we were taught God’s word through songs, children’s Christian movies, and children’s sing-alongs. Throughout primary school, my parents made us attend VBS (Vocational Bible School) every summer, where we spent time learning Christian songs and engaging in other activities that were all geared toward teaching us more about God. Sometimes it was really fun and other times it wasn’t, but going (as was the case with anything pertaining to God) was never optional. The values we were taught outside the home were restated even more at home. There was a high chance of getting flogged for lying, rather than for the act you were trying to cover up for.
My dad had this Bible study with us after Sunday service where he would either emphasize the lessons we had learned in church or take us on a new topic. I hated it on most days, but it wasn’t optional so I didn’t have much of a choice. As I grew, I began to realize that my reality was very different from those of most of my mates, including the supposed Pastor’s children I had as friends. In my house, going out to play with friends on Sunday was absolutely prohibited – Sunday was a day to “spend time with God and hear from him.” Although I only began my personal walk with Jesus recently, this upbringing has been a huge contribution to this journey.
Besides the deep Christian upbringing we had, it was also apparent that my parents were very big on quality education for their children. We attended schools that were either rated best or came close. Most of the schools emphasized salient things that I didn’t see with many other schools. For instance, we had handwriting classes, where everyone had to learn to write in cursive, and public speaking classes, where we had to make presentations often as part of our course curriculum.
My current school provides opportunities for work-study, where a person has the opportunity to work simultaneously as they study and earn, and community service, where students are actively involved in giving back to the host community. These many opportunities have progressively contributed to my vocabulary, my ability to hold conversations and socialize, and heightened my interest in community service. You could easily tell that a top priority for my parents is quality education for their children. The number of times that house projects have been put on hold to ensure that school fees and other needs for school are met is too numerous to recount.
My parents also have a big heart for missions and quality healthcare delivery. For as long as I can remember, my parents have run an organization given to sharing the love of God through the provision of quality healthcare to underserved rural communities. I have been a witness to the several times they’ve emptied their accounts solely for this cause and how this love for the underserved and neglected population has propelled them to believe God for more provision, to enable them to give more. I have volunteered a number of times for these outreaches as well and I love going. Even though my studies are not in the sciences, this project has birthed in me a hunger for better healthcare delivery systems, particularly in these communities in Nigeria.
Recently, I applied for the office of the health director of the Student Government Association on my campus, and I got in. I also established the Health Law Society, here on my campus; a thriving society that is devoted to equipping our generation with the requisite knowledge to institute change in the health sector – beginning from our campus. I attribute my interest to my parents. Every time I carry out an official task for any of these offices I occupy, the overwhelming impact my parents have had on my life becomes more apparent to me.
Perhaps the part of my parent’s union that I love the most is their mutual love and respect for each other. My father unashamedly shows his consistent love for my mum and vice versa; I could write a book solely to buttress this point. In a world where marriage has become as fickle as life, their union is a proof that God didn’t stutter when he said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” At home, we jokingly tell my mum often that she’s God’s favorite (although I sincerely think it’s true). I want and believe in love because of my parents.
Although there are a few things I wish could change, I think my parents did an excellent job at parenting; not many people get to have what I have. As I reflect and cast my mind back to the preceding years, I realize even more how deeply loved by God I am to be nurtured by my parents.
Happy Silver Anniversary, Mum and Dad! You remain my Heroes.
Love you both always!
Your daughter,
Esther Ochanya Odumu
