Take care of your parents

19 May, 2017 - 00:05 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Arthur Marara Motivation for Success
It’s around 9:25pm, on a Sunday May 15, 2017, Mother’s Day as I am writing this article. I have had a 594 kilometre drive to and from Masvingo from Harare where I stay. Pretty hectic taking into account the fact that I have to be at work the following day (Monday).

Truth be told I had a busy previous day as I was speaking for hours, but I had to make the sacrifice. I have had to take the long road than to dump her to the kombis or buses. My mother was so excited to arrive home relaxed coupled with some treats along the way. She is a pizza fan, and surely I took the opportunity to spoil her.

Certainly driving costs more than $8.00 for bus fare (tollgates alone cost $8.00). There is nothing that fills me with joy that to see my mother smiling and I would do anything to make her smile.

My story
You will never understand why I do what I do until you understand where I am coming from. I am a lawyer, a speaker, author, columnist, leadership coach, strategist, entrepreneur in my own right. Behind all this is a story. I lost my father when I was 13 years of age, and ever since then my mother played the role of a father.

With no formal education, she left her comfort to go into the streets to sell bananas so that I could go to school. Those who know Masvingo, there was a shop used to be called “Maworesa”, that’s where she would sit hoping that people would buy the fruits.

She endured several winters outside and sometimes would sleep in a queue hoping to get the bananas for resale. With escalating harsh economic environment she shifted her focus to Mozambique Sango border post where she would go and sell wares so that we could get rice for resale here in Zimbabwe and also for food. The years of heavy luggage cost her back and now she has a back problem, but this was all in a bid to give me a life. With her back problems escalating we had to go to see a specialist. When I went for an MRI scan for her back, I was quoted $1000.00, it might appear to be a lot of money but compared to what she did for us, that’s nothing. Mothers go through a lot for children to have a life.

This week I want to challenge your conscience and remember your mother, and your parents. If you do not have biological parents alive anyone who played a significant role in your life is your parent. Bless them!

Be serious
“A mother can take care of seven children, but seven children can fail to take care of 1 person”.  I saw this quote and it provoked me to immense anger and thought. This is what many people are doing. Children who have small houses that they are spoiling with expensive gifts, iphones, cars, clothes, shopping vouchers, you name it, fail to take care of their own mothers in the rural areas who are languishing in poverty.

I do not know what happens to people; they become so exceptionally generous when it comes to strangers, yet very inhuman and cruel when it comes to their own families. You might have a better background but that does not mean you have no role to play. Always look for opportunities to minister and reach out to them. Telephone calls could mean a lot. Have you ever imagined the amount of time you spend on the phone with strangers, yet you do not even know how your mother is doing? Think seriously and think deep.

Take care of your family
“To all those who did nothing for their mums. . . but contributed towards the Pastor or Prophet’s wife Mother’s day gift at church. Today. . . I pray your fuel runs out whilst driving past the State House…” I think you might have an idea of what could happen if you run out of fuel at this stage. I do not usually like sharing jokes on social media, but this one is not just a joke, but wisdom couched in comical format.

This is what many people do; they take care of other people and neglect their own families.
Nothing wrong with taking care of “spiritual mothers” and “spiritual fathers” but everything wrong in hypocrisy of taking care of them when your own parents are languishing in problems. Who do you want to take care of your family?

Any church that does not teach you to take care of your parents and your family is not a good church for you. In fact leave it! I said it! Any Pastor who does not teach and remind you to go and take care of your family is not a good one. If you are a Pastor and reading this article, challenge your flock to go and bless their parents.

Even if those parents do not go to church, they are still parents. God used and chose them for that assignment. Some people don’t even want to see church because of what they see church people do. I look forward to days when churches have parents’ day where they celebrate parents in their presence.

I prioritise my family in every aspect, and in terms of time. I cancel speaking engagements to go and see my mother and family. I drove midnight one day to Masvingo when I picked that my brother had been injured by a baseball and suffered a fracture. My mother had tried to hide this from me fearing that I would drive.

Who do I find at Morgenster that night, my mother next to my last born brother. She was detained for the whole weekend until the boy was discharged after being detained. I drove to Masvingo to speak to my last born brother before the examinations. I speak to thousands of children and motivate them to success. I also want those close to me to benefit first hand as well.

You did not fall from heaven
This is the truth we are not emphasising. No matter what title you are given, you did not fall from heaven. There is some old woman who went through a lot for you to be where you are today. Remember her, and if she is not there, remember whoever took the role. I thank God that I have been able to reach out to many people through these articles, and live talks. This is possible because of one woman who believed in me, and stood with me through difficulties. Now I am here!

Decent lives, must precede decent burials
Do not speak volumes you never spoke during a person’s life time. I have refused to spoil my mother in death; I want to spoil her in life.

She does not have a driver’s licence; otherwise she has a car of her own. That was a Christmas gift I gave her last year in December.  I took her to South Africa with my brother and asked her to choose a car she would want. I cannot do everything; I commit to do what I can! One of my success secrets, is I have a woman praying for me daily because I reach out to her.

To all single mothers
There is no child without a father, but there is a father without a child. There are fathers who father and leave their children. Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a “dad”. You might have been abandoned, and left with children. Take care of them no matter how difficult it might be. Show them a good example you would want them to live with. One day, your children will grow and be a blessing. Do not look for a “blesser”. Let God be your “blesser” and work with your own hands. Happy mother’s day to all mothers in Zimbabwe and outside.

Join me on Star FM on Wednesdays (09:30am-10:00am) for some moments of inspiration on the Breeze with Tariro.

Arthur Marara is an Attorney, Author and Speaker. He is also the author of the Personal Development Toolkit. Send your feedback to [email protected] or +263772467255 (Whatsapp)

Share This:

Sponsored Links

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds