August is a very special month for me. On August 16, 2007, my dear mother of mine left to be with the Lord. I miss her so much, but I know she looks down on me and says, “My dear, dear daughter, keep running, keep running so you too can see what the end will be. THANK YOU MOM! Thank you for inspiring me to keep going.” Go ahead, because I know that one day I will see your beautiful face again.

Mom, if it hadn’t been for God on my side “Where would I be?”

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been there for me since my mother’s passing. Thank you for her prayers, love, care, concern, encouragement, and support. I couldn’t imagine what I would have done without each of you. I may not have silver or gold, but I have a heart full of love and sincere prayers that God will send people into their lives who will do much more than they have done for me, in Jesus name. .

Thinking of my mother, I remember how she loved helping people.

She would help them like it was going out of style. She always wanted to know “what can I make you eat?” Would you like something to drink? Anything you lacked, she would do her best to provide it for you. She was known for paying many children’s school fees. She adopted children, she fostered children, she gave children who didn’t have a roof over their heads, a roof over their heads. Throughout her life, she donated to so many churches and organizations that it was unreal, but what was so amazing about her, she never stopped her, she was just doing what she loved to do.

Even in her sick bed, she continued to instruct me to pay someone’s school fees, help this person or that person, give to this ministry or that ministry and so on. Actually, the list goes on and on. There were so many times that my brothers and I challenged our mother. We often feel like she should have done more for us instead of the strangers she constantly hurt.

Two days after he had surgery on his broken ankle last year, I noticed that he was having trouble breathing. Although he was in pain, he was very insistent on talking to all of his children at the same time.

Fortunately, the afternoon she made that request, we were all visiting her in the hospital. Curiosity reigned in our minds as we wondered what our ailing mother, who nearly fought for her life, had to tell us. When we met, she began to speak: “I want everyone to carry on my legacy of helping people in need.” She continued to acknowledge that she was proud of what each of us was doing, yet she felt we could do so much more. She advised us to plant in the lives of as many people as possible and to help the ministries in any way we could.

This was the last real conversation he had with us before his death.

When she died, our wish was to give her a homecoming ceremony worthy of the QUEEN she had been. We didn’t know how we were going to pull it off, but if it meant selling our possessions to do it, we were more than ready. We make the decision to seek direction on the hills of God, and not on the heels of man.

But the God we serve had something else in store for us. When the news of my mother’s death spread around the world like wildfire, we got the shock of our lives. People came from all over and poured unimaginable support, love and finances into our stunned hearts and hands.

Once we counted what people had given us, we were looking at a whopping $22,000. Why am I writing this? I am writing this because God revealed to me that all the years my mother gave to others were definitely not in vain.

She just sowed seeds that her children are still reaping as I write. At the time of her death, her loved ones were and are still reaping the harvest that her sowing had produced.

And you my dear reader? Are you a giver or a taker? What investment are you leaving for your loved ones? What impact are you having on your family and community? As our Heavenly Father has so graciously given us a new lease on life, let us strive to give our brothers and sisters new leases on life with whatever help we can provide. I pray that the Spirit of God directs our hearts, in the name of Jesus.