Cecilia Uloma Okoro Ubeng

To My Beloved Grandma

In the months leading up to her hospitalization and eventual death, we didn't have cable at our house, so my Grandma could only watch movies. While she enjoyed many animated Disney classics, her all-time favorite remained The Sound of Music. She loved to sing and would often fill our kitchen and living room with heartfelt worship to The Lord while she cooked. When I realized that her time with us was drawing to a close, I was on the other side of world, but was immediately inspired to listen to this song on my iPod. I believe this was her mantra in life and when I hear the lyrics, more now than ever before, I find courage and hope to "sing once more".

"The hills are alive with the sound of music,
With songs they have sung for a thousand years.
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music.
My heart wants to sing every song it hears.

My heart wants to beat like the wings of birds
That rise from the lake to the trees.
My heart wants to sigh like a chime
That flies from a church on a breeze.
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls
Over stones on its way;
To sing through the night like a lark
Who is learning to pray.

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely.
I know I will hear what I've heard before.
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music,
And I'll sing once more!"

To beloved Mother

I have always known and been with my mother, for as long as I can remember. She called me her hand bag (purse), because she took me wherever she went. She instilled into me the love of reading at an early age. Mother was a linguist, she spoke seven languages. She also imparted the love of languages to me. She was my biggest fan and advocate. From my earliest memory, she told me that I was to become a doctor. To that goal, she poured her heart and soul. She wanted me to get the best education money could buy and she saved and scrimped for such an education. She worked for a cement company, which awarded scholarships to two children of their employees every year and I was the among the first two. I was able to attend one of the two top all girls high schools in Nigeria on this scholarship. Over the next five years, she saved as much as she for my higher education in the United States. She tearfully sent me to America for that education she had worked and saved for. By the grace of GOD, she was able to see me graduate from medical school and become the first doctor in our family. She was my second best friend and confidant after my husband, whom she adored.

My mother demonstrated a profound love for GOD to me an early age. I remember her praying every morning and attending church diligently. She was a hard worker. All her bosses loved her. She could get any international line they needed, when no one else could. She had complete confidence of her superiors, until her retirement.

When she relocated to America, she did not stay idle, but became a care giver to my children and the children of other people. My mother always earned her own way in life. She taught me the value of hard work. She constantly praised me, frequently I got accolades from my mother. She believed in positive reinforcement. She was my coffee buddy. Every morning, I would have breakfast and a pep talk and chat with mother. Every evening, when I returned home, we would have our evening chat. Mother regaled me many stories about our family. I knew where I came from and who I am listening to all these stories.

My mother was one of the kindest and generous people, I know. She could give you the shirt off her back. All my friends and acquaintances heard about my mother. Every friend of mine, was immediately loved and welcomed into our home by her. She prayed for and financially supported my ministry of medical missions. She was very proud of the work our family was doing to advance the Kingdom of GOD.

My mother and I shared a love of food. She would eagerly anticipate my latest culinary creation. She loved my cooking, especially the seafood gourmet dishes. She would eat them with relish and gusto. She would call me a chef from Heaven. She would even tell me that I would cook in Heaven for everyone, when I come home to Heaven.

My dearest mother, how I will miss her. However, when I too take this journey home to be with JESUS, she will be waiting for me right at Heaven's gate, and forever we both shall be with the LORD, in Paradise. Adieu, sweet mother, I will never forget you, see you in a twinkling of the eye, because a thousand years is like a day to The Lord, and a day is like a thousand years. Shalom

To my Beloved Grandma

Since birth you watched over me and reared me to be an honest and humble man. You smacked me upside the head when I needed it, comforted me when I was blue, read me bedtime stories to help me sleep at night, and kept me from falling into the wrong crowds. Even as I grew up, and we drifted apart, still you watched over me, praying that I would know the right path of action for my life and others. Never again will I know the joy of your company here on Earth, but knowingly I move forward that I will see you again when my count of days on this earth have come to an end. Until then beloved grandma, watch over us and pray for us as we strive and struggle to live life in the right ways.

What more can be said of a woman who gave all she had to support her family?

She will be sorely missed, but she waits for us to join her in Eternity!

We did not have the privilege and pleasure of getting to know Mrs Ubeng, but, a handful of times, we heard brief accounts of her from Dr. Justina Taube. We clearly recall being told that she was lively and was a great cook. We read the obituary and the tributes to get a better sense of Mrs Ubeng. The tributes bear witness that her life was a tribute and testimony to God's great love and abundant grace. As she ran the race here on earth, she reflected God's nature to others. Our Lord in heaven must be pleased to welcome her home to Him and grant his peace to all her family and friends.