Mother always told me
"Freely ye give, freely ye receive"
Those words I never forgot
they were inbedded in my eight year old heart
as etched in as the memory of she who lived next door to us
single mother with two little ones and nothing to show for
but a legacy of love for her babes
It was so natural that whatever we bought from the market
a portion was rightfully hers as well, mother made sure of that
Inside her dark  shack, we'd make ourselves comfortable on the mud floor
bringing gifts, words of encouragement, laughter and prayer
she was ever grateful, I could tell from the tears in her eyes
"Merci Mama D, que Dieu te benis" she'd say to Mother
While at a corner, Loulou, always with a runny nose held my little pinky and blessed me with a bright smile
I never truly understood what mother meant by
"Freely ye give, freely ye receive"
but it was always such a great feeling that I never let it go

((Translation of her words to my mother: Thank you Mama D and may God bless you. I will forever be grateful and blessed for all the great things mama taught me.))

Copyright © 2008 Bernice Angoh