- Says be a helpmate to your partner, no room for divorce
“You need to live a life of faith. A life directed and propelled solely by God’s special grace. A life of righteousness, humility, hard work, honesty, diligence, focus, resilience, fasting and regular prayers, Dr. (Mrs.) Omotayo Badejo-Omotosho, former Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Agency tasked Catholic women. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you,” she enjoined the women quoting Matthew Chapter 6, verse 33 while delivering a lecture at the 30th anniversary of the Catholic Sisters United (CSU), held recently in Lagos. She urged the women to examine themselves thus as she cautioned them to live exemplary lives devoid of competitiveness. “
We must ask ourselves this question – Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? So that all other things can be added unto us! “For us to be able to do this all the time, you must start by living a life of faith. You must dare to be different. Stop following others and trying to imitate them, compete or compare yourself with them. “That’s negative competition. It’s detrimental to growth. Such breeds jealousy and envy! Nothing more.” The Executive Secretary of Towards a Greater Nigeria Foundation implored the women to always choose the path of righteousness, which she described as very narrow, challenging, rough, tough, demanding, self-sacrificing and tenacious, if they must be complete women of faith.
She further enjoined members of CSU to embrace patience, tolerance and remain focused in their faith, living each day deliberately, not spontaneously nor accidentally, inviting God to be their Alpha and Omega everyday towards accomplishing their common spiritual goal of being complete women of faith. The theme of CSU’s 30th anniversary is, “The 360 degree Catholic woman.” Badejo-Omotosho noted that 360 degrees is a complete circle and therefore, indicates a complete woman. “To be a complete woman, you must be a woman of faith. The Question arises, what are the numerous roles expected of a woman? How does this woman attend to all these roles efficiently? How does she balance spirituality with rising socio-economic challenges of today? For you to be able to combine all these roles and responsibilities efficiently well, you need to live a life of faith.”
She itemised the roles of a woman as roles of a mother, wife, daughter, sister, professional role side by side her career, emotional spiritual roles as well as her roles in the Church and in her community. To combine all these roles efCover Continued from PAGE 01 ficiently and effectively well, without allowing one or two to suffer and strike a balance, she advised that a woman must strive to be a complete woman that lives a life of faith. She listed the features of a complete woman: “A woman that dares to be different. A woman that has chosen to live a life of righteousness. A woman that daily seeks first the kingdom of God. A woman that lives each day deliberately, by starting each day with prayers and ending in prayers. “A woman that knows how to set priorities amidst many demands.
A woman that understands life-eternal than common vanities of life! A woman that knows before anything good happens in the physical – it must have been settled on her knees in prayers, in the spiritual. “A woman that lives for the betterment of other people, a selfless woman. Above all, a woman that regularly wants to impact others, positively…. always, ready to help, ready to give, ready to pray, ready to fast, ready to use her contacts and network for others to be empowered. “A woman that shuns what the world celebrates today… exotic cars, mansions, expensive jewelry like gold and diamonds, ostentatious living in a world where so many lives are impoverished and people dying of poverty and malnutrition. “A woman that celebrates honour, humanity and love for others.
In her, flows the milk of human kindness. “The 360 degrees Catholic woman is all these enumerated above and even more.” She spoke to the hearts of Sisters of the CSU as she took them through a self- examination exercise on how they have fared in their marriages. Hear her, “To all our Sisters of CSU that are married – are we good and supportive wives to our husbands? Are we helpmates to them or we have turned all the financial demands of our homes unto their heads, while we do nothing to help and support them – but solely making demands upon demands? “Are you one of those that do not appreciate anything your husband does, because you expect more from him.
Are you comparing what your friend’s husband gave her to what yours gave you? “Are you one of those ladies that nag their spouses for not buying them a brand new car, on being tired of living in a 3-bedroom flat on the mainland, as you prefer a Duplex on the Island, yet, it’s only a flat in Magodo or Palm Grove on the mainland your husband can afford! “Be a grateful heart! For example, it is expected that the 360 degrees Catholic woman will appreciate whatever her husband can afford, happily make him feel worthy and appreciated and will quietly go to her prayer altar and pray to God to bless them more, so that they can also be a blessing unto others.”
“Not to pray that God should bless you more so you can build your mansions and buy exotic cars, to oppress further the majority of the poor among us”, she stressed. According to her, that is not living a life of faith, that isn’t the path to being a complete Woman. Badejo-Omotosho called on all married women and spinsters to be content with what they have. She advised those who want more to turn to God in prayers. She emphasised further, “Even more importantly, the 360 degrees Catholic woman of faith, must live a virtuous life. We all know the story of the virtuous woman in the Bible, the book of Proverbs? “Who can find a virtuous woman – for her price is far above rubies! She considered a field and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard! She girdeth her loins with strength and strengthens her arms…she stretches her hands to the poor and needy. “Her Children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praiseth her.
Do we observe that the Bible says – She considereth a field and buyeth it, with the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard? “So, who says your husband must be the only one to carry all home demands and buy all expenses? What about you? “What are you doing with your hands! You must arise and do something.” She however charged Catholic women to be help-mates to their partners, stressing that there is no room for divorce in a Catholic marriage. On a final note, she urged the women to balance spirituality with rising challenges. She left them with these words of admonition. “
Set your priorities – your faith – God first, your home, treat your husband with respect, love and attention, shun owambe parties and earthly vanities, be able to have more time for your children and their education, attend also to orphans and indigent children around your community or Church, honour your parents and care for them, never equate the love of money with God’s unconditional love – your spouse may not have money but genuinely loves you, join hands with him and support each other to succeed, no basis for competition, rivalry, separation nor divorce, take good care of your husband, children and good care of your job, never compromise your body for exchange for money, gratification, or any form of infidelity.
“Remember always that your body is the temple of the Lord. So, it must be well kept. “Be ready to start living a selfless life, not a selfish one. A life dedicated to helping and impacting others, positively! When you make all these your top priorities and you start living a life of faith, you will be amazed on how God’s grace and blessings will be pouring upon you, your husband, children, grandchildren and entire household.
