A woman has a unique capacity to transform, preserve and multiply whatever is committed to her care. When a woman is diligent, resourceful and responsible, she can become a tremendous asset to her family and society.
Let me take you back to those days. How many of you remember tying a wrapper around your neck like this? Some of us grew up with very little. This wrapper was our shawl, and sometimes it served several other purposes. Children from privileged homes may not have had that experience, but we learnt to make the most of what was available.
Yesterday, I woke up and sent a message to my wife asking her to bring some food items. She brought almost everything she had. That experience reminded me of something important about womanhood.
The womb is both a preservative and an expansile container.
A woman does not merely receive; she has the capacity to preserve, develop and multiply what is entrusted to her.
My wife has demonstrated this principle in our home. She has managed our resources very well, and that has given me the freedom to live and pursue my work without unnecessary financial pressure.
One of the remarkable qualities of womanhood is the instinct to protect.
Women protect their homes, children, possessions and the integrity of their families. A responsible woman is also concerned about her husband’s reputation and the image of the family.
Sometimes, even when a husband has shortcomings, his wife may be the person making efforts to protect the family’s dignity and keep things together.
This protective instinct is an important part of family life. It helps create stability and gives the family a sense of security.
Consider the biological function of a woman. A man contributes a sperm cell, and a woman carries and develops it into a human being. She gives birth to a baby, cares for that baby and participates in transforming the child into an adult.
This illustrates the remarkable capacity for development and transformation associated with motherhood.
A woman can receive something small and help it become something much greater. She can take limited resources and manage them to meet the needs of a family.
That is why I believe a woman’s contribution should not be measured only by what she earns financially. Her ability to preserve resources, manage a home, raise children and develop human potential is equally significant.
The influence of a mother on a child’s early development is profound.
The first few years of a child’s life are particularly important. During this period, the child learns language, behaviour, values and patterns of interaction, much of which is shaped by the people who provide daily care.
I once heard an account from someone who worked in a hospice, where elderly people receive care towards the end of their lives. According to the account, many of them called out for their mothers as they approached death.
It is a reminder of how deeply a mother’s presence and care can remain with a person throughout life.
We are, in many ways, products of the values, attention, discipline and guidance we receive from our mothers.
This is why mothers must recognise the importance of their responsibility in raising children. The home is one of the earliest environments in which a child’s character and outlook on life are formed.
My concern is about the changing understanding of womanhood in contemporary society.
Are women still fulfilling their important role of transforming potential into productivity, or are some becoming more concerned with consumption than creation?
There is nothing wrong with a woman enjoying good things, dressing well or pursuing personal ambitions. But these should not replace the qualities of diligence, resourcefulness, responsibility and the ability to build.
A woman should be able to add value to whatever comes into her hands. She should be a builder, a developer and a stabilising influence in her family.
When this transformative aspect of womanhood is neglected, the family suffers, and when families suffer, society eventually feels the consequences.
Womanhood is a tremendous responsibility. Beyond biological motherhood, it involves preservation, development, protection and the transfer of values from one generation to another.
A good woman does not merely consume the resources available to her. She manages them wisely, develops the potential of her children and contributes to the stability and progress of her family.
My wife has shown me the value of having a woman who understands resource management and responsibility. Her contribution has given me freedom and strengthened what we have built together.
A woman should not only be a receiver of resources but also a transformer of resources, potential and lives.
When women embrace this responsibility, families become stronger, children receive better foundations, and society benefits.
I remain your friend,
Dr. Charles Apoki
God bless you.
