A lecture delivered at the 30th Anniversary of the Catholic Sisters United (CSU) by the keynote Speaker – Dr. Mrs. Omotayo Badejo-Omotosho, MFR. (Former Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Agency & Executive Secretary, Towards A Greater Nigeria Foundation).
The Chairman of the day, Our Patron & Patroness, my beautiful & diligent Sisters of CSU, distinguished guests, ladies & gentlemen. The Theme of your 30th Anniversary is tagged – The 360 Degrees Catholic Woman. Since 360 Degrees is a Complete Circle, then we are talking about 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 & responsibilities efficiently well – 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 & regular prayers!! The Bible says – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God & his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you” Matthew Chapter 6, verse 33.
To bring this to close perspectives, we must ask ourselves this question – Are you seeking first the kingdom of God & 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 & TRYING TO IMITATE THEM, COMPETE or COMPARE YOURSELF WITH THEM. That’s negative competition. It’s detrimental to growth. Such breeds jealousy & envy! Nothing more. When as ladies, you choose always the path of righteousness, the path which is very narrow, challenging, rough, tough, demanding, self- sacrificing, tenacious, patience, tolerance & remain focused in your faith, living each day deliberately, not spontaneously nor accidentally, inviting God to be your Alpha & Omega everyday – then, you are working towards being a COMPLETE WOMAN OF FAITH.
To answer the Salient questions earlier asked, 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 challenges? The numerous roles expected of a Catholic woman are – role as a Mother, Wife, daughter, Sister, professional role / Career, Emotional role, Spiritual, her role in the Church and in her Community! Infact, the roles are endless. How must we combine all these roles efficiently & effectively well, without allowing one or two to suffer? How do we strike a balance?
The summary answers to all these questions are – A Complete woman is a woman that lives a life of faith. 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 & 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 & network for others to be Empowered. A woman that shuns what the world celebrates today….exotic cars, mansions, expensive jewelry like gold & diamonds, ostentatious living in a world where so many lives are impoverished & people dying of poverty & malnutrition. A woman that celebrates honor, humanity and love for others. In her, flows the milk of human kindness.
The 360 degrees Catholic woman is all these enumerated above & even more! To all our Sisters of CSU that are married – are we good & supportive wives to our husbands? Are we help-mates to them or we have turned all the financial demands of our homes unto their heads, while we do nothing to help & 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 wherever her husband can afford, happily make him feel worthy & appreciated & will quietly go to her Prayer Altar & pray God to bless them more, so that they can also be a blessing unto others!! Not pray that God should bless you more – so you can build your mansions & buy exotic cars, to oppress further the majority of the Poor amongst us? That is not living a life of faith that isn’t the path to being a Complete Woman. Whether you are married or not, you must be content with what you have if you want more, go to God in Prayers.
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 & strengthens her arms…she stretches her hands to the poor & needy…Her Children arise up & call her blessed, her husband also praiseth her. Do we observe that the Bible says – SHE CONSIDERETH A FIELD & 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 & buy all expenses? What about you? What are you doing with your hands! You must arise & do something!! Be a HELP – MATE to your partner! No room for divorce in a Catholic marriage!
Lastly, balancing Spirituality with rising challenges reminds me of my upbringing. As a young student of Sacred Heart Private School, Ring Road, Ibadan, our caring Principal – Rev. Mother Michael, who loved me so much, always taught us to be modest in all we do! She would remind us on how our parents worked hard to pay our School fees! She taught us to shy away from expensive taste that we cannot afford, she taught us – always cut your cloth according to your size, not the size of your classmate nor your peer group! She went ahead to teach us that song I AM CONTENT WITH WHAT I HAVE, LITTLE BE IT OR MUCH? Huuumm! That word of contentment again!!
Our very dear Rev. Mother Michael taught us the way of the Lord. She taught us so many things & moral values. She always reiterated what my parents had taught me at home… like the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, like fear Not! The Lord is with you, like make hay! While the sun shines, etc. Since she showed me so much affection between Mother & Child, she always rang it in my ears…Theresa, don’t ever forget the secret of success – it’s in the Bible; SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD & HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS…and I gladly will complete it for Mother – and all other things shall be added unto me!
Little did I know that our dear Rev. Mother Michael was teaching me how to balance SPIRITUALITY WITH RISING CHALLENGES IN FUTURE! Coincidentally, this is part of the THEME of your anniversary today, CSU! Rev. Mother Michael must have seen the future, over 60 years ago! These CATHOLIC SCHOOLS of ours, greatly impacted on us all. May God bless our progenitors and even our Archbishops, Bishops and other custodians that are carrying on the noble legacy! A legacy of sound education for us all!!
Several years after, I still recall all we were taught. My dear Sisters, daughters and friends of CSU, let’s lay a solid foundation for our children so we can start preparing them to being 360 degrees Catholic adults. I still hear the voice of Rev. Mother. Michael fondly calling me – ‘Pretty little brat’ or announcing my name after our morning assembly as the Team Lead representing my school at a DEBATE COMPETITION with Sacred Heart Private School, Onireke-Ibadan or Queens School. She rounds it up by saying – I chose Theresa Badejo because of her being very bold, outspoken & more importantly for her diction! Rather than feel on top of the world, I would run to the chapel at my break time….to Pray, asking God to help me at the forthcoming competition, so I don’t fumble nor let down my School, nor even let my dear Mother Michael down! This I dreaded, so badly.
Moreso, she taught us again that life without prayer is a life of crisis! All I was taught in School, be it Sacred Heart Private School, my short stint at Theresa’s Oke Ado and Christ School Ado- Ekiti, still resonates in me, till today!
To my CSU sisters, as we strive to be a Complete Woman of Faith, remember it’s a journey! From now on, you must be deliberate about it. Set your priorities…your faith – God first, your home , treat your husband with respect, love & attention, shun owambe parties & earthly vanities, be able to have more time for your Children & their education, attend also to orphans & indigent Children around your Community or Church, honour your parents & 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 & 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!
Guided by the life lessons enumerated above, you have started your journey towards being A Complete Woman of faith, 360 degrees Catholic woman! A woman that is able to strike a balance Spiritually, Physically, Mentally, Financially, Professionally, Emotionally, Domestically, Health wise, etc. In all ramifications! The total woman of faith. Wherever you find yourselves, always remember the words of the Greek philosopher, which says and I quote, ” I must pass this way but once. The good I can do, let me do it now. Let me not neglect it nor defer it, because I may or may not, pass this way, again”! This means time waits for no one! That moment starts now. It means for anyone of us to do the good we can do now – we must have a job! You cannot be idle & remain jobless . For you to be respected in any community & be reckoned with, you must have a job or Vocation that you do. Don’t sit down & look, be useful to yourself & others!! Get a job or be self – employed, earn income & grow!!! The 360 degrees Catholic woman is a very hardworking & productive woman! She is likened to the Biblical Virtuous woman. The journey starts now!
GOD BLESS US ALL!!
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