Mothering Sunday- 2014
Mothering goes beyond giving birth.
Today I want to share a blissful spiritual
mothering experience that God in His divine mercy has allowed me to experience.
And so, this year's Mothers Day page is dedicated to a special lady in my life
who divinely came along side my parents, and in more than one way has raised me spiritually - Yes, spiritually nurtured
me in my teen and early growing years.
We could call her a "spiritual
mother"-or a discipler- the one who teaches you truths about God,
understands the struggles of your growing years, offers hope, time, help and
encouragement and above all, herself. She
is like an elder sister, mother, friend and a teacher! You can count on her
anytime, anywhere. In speech, she opens her mouth with wisdom and there is a
law of kindness on her tongue.(Pro31:26)
Few of us are privileged to have such 'spiritual
mentors' in our lives and for me, her name happens to be Mrs. Patricia Madhu
Sheth whom I affectionately call Madhuben. (sister Madhu) or as her
husband called her, Madh, a short form; and also in Gujarati Madh= honey. I and many others have witnessed that this
special lady has been a godly mother to her own children in their growing years
too.
Allow me introduce Mrs. Patricia Madhu Sheth to you.
Madh, for few years now, is a godly widow; she lives in Nairobi, Kenya,
and works there too.Born, and raised in Meru, she has resided
most of her life in Kenya;
has grown up kids who are married, and so now she happens to be a granny.
On the spiritual front, Madh comes from a Hindu
family. She came to faith in Christ in her high school years and has been a
strong believer in Jesus Christ, living faithfully by His grace and by Biblical
truths. She would explain to me the deep truth about Christ, how we as human beings are like small 'kidi'(ant), and if God came to talk to us in all His majesty, we would not be able to withstand His vast, enormous, magnanimous greatness, so God Himself, became a type of a 'kidi' (an ant) to communicate His love to us. (This is the gospel of Jesus Christ!)
34 years ago, I met Madhuben in Nairobi,
when I had migrated to Kenya,
at the age of 15; just a little later after I had chosen to 'get saved' in
Christian terms. But I had a long way to go in my faith. She was already
married by then, had two sweet lovely kids and worked in the banking industry
when God intersected our paths. Instantly she took liking to me, and God drew
me close to her too. My parents entrusted me to her care, either spending a
weekend at her place or walking from college or office to her home from where I
would be later picked up by Dad. For many
years in our careers, we also worked in the buildings next to each other's workplaces,
something which we both felt was 'GOD ordained!' (my first, second and third
job) I have enjoyed joining her family on day tours, weekend holidays, and have
also had a privilege of staying at her home for few months.
She modeled for me and helped me know Jesus in a
very personal and intimate way. At some points in life my faith resembled hers.
Now I see, over the years God helped me personalize my faith from an extension
of hers. But what a beautiful extension has that been!
We would study Bible in her home, sing songs, attend
the same church, evangelize together, walk and talk of issues in life and
discuss whys and why-nots of the world!
Allow me to let out a little secret! One of the
reasons I had not wanted to become a dedicated Christian in my early years was
because I loved watching Indian movies and sing movie songs and at that time in
India if you got 'saved,' you would have to give up watching movies, as it was
categorized as an 'ungodly' entertainment. Well, after coming to Kenya, I shared
this troubling thought with Madhuben. She immediately understood and said,
"Kalpna, what does the Bible say, does it say stop watching movies and you
will be saved? NO! the Bible says, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
you will be saved and your household also." "As you put your faith in Christ, His
Holy Spirit comes to live in you, and helps you become a new person who now
enjoys God's presence and work, more than the movies or anything for that matter."
She assisted in seeing movies from a Christian perspective, calling what is
sin, a sin and what would be good that God could use to teach us! That brought
a huge positive change in my thinking.
Also I was young, dealing with a lot of ungodly
anger. I had negative ideas and notions on many
things. God used this dear woman to help me let go off and overcome my built up anger towards abusive,
controlling men. God intervened and I learned to be kind and gentle. She was patient with me. She listened, understood, and introduced me to number of Christian books that taught me the
right perspective on healthy relationships; showing me how GOD views men and women and how Jesus treated women; tenderly, with love and compassion. I was able to differentiate the world's standard of men and women, and Jesus' holy standard. The books such as Walter and Ingrid Trobisch's, "The Joy of Being a Woman" "I Loved a Girl" "I Married You" etc. For spiritual growth there were Brother
Andrew's "God's Smuggler," Corrie Ten Boom's, "Hiding Place," and "
"Prison to Praise" by Marlene Carothers and many others. She
helped me grow spiritually, and to have a right Biblical view of God, people,
about myself, and towards my circumstances; The sum of it all helped
me mature in this area. I was able to let go of my anger and experience healing.
She also taught me to
dress modestly like a nice girl. I had a tom boyish attitude and behavior. I was able to see
my identity as a woman of God, purchased by Jesus' blood and be happy without comparing myself to any man or any one for that matter.
Be it in the business world, social life, spiritual
sphere or personal home front, Madh was Proverbs31 woman I saw at that time, juggling many roles: being a humble child of God, wife, mother, a successful
banker and a precious mother to her own kids, and an understanding friend to so many kids like me.
Not only me, but Christians and non-Christian
teens, neighbors, staff, clients, and people respected her as Madhuben. As she always blessed, spoke softly, prayed for people with faith and
loved deeply. Even in her banking industry, when she was unable to approve a loan for any client, she would still not send them 'empty handed' but pray with them, assuring God had a better plan for their lives. Whether she agreed or not, whether she consented or not, any person was welcomed to seek an audience with her and talk. She was home
to be with, whether she rolled her chapatis (Indian flat breads) in the
kitchen, walked with us, taught the Bible lesson, was working in the office, or
drove. She listened and encouraged. While she had high moral and biblical
standards, she was sympathetic towards those who struggled with them, and taught
with much grace. Her truth, as someone has said, "was laced with grace" and her love
had a backbone of Biblical truth. She is not perfect and neither is anyone. I
have seen her like David, humble before God, like Deborah, standing up
for her loved ones, like Habakkuk, thanking GOD even when the walls surrounding her
newly bought home had come down; praising God in all situations, even dire ones, where one would have given up long ago, she stuck by like an oak tree. At times as she
shared: she would tell God, "I am holding onto the hem of your dress, Lord,
the minute I let go of it, I will fall," and then immediately authenticate how God would remind
her, "Madhu, it is not you hanging on to the hem of my dress, I am holding
you with my righteous right hand and would NEVER let go off you, my
child!" She always thanked God that she was a Christian(!) that showed much
'self-controlled' life.
One book she loves is Psalms, even today she blesses me in
every email quoting a Psalm.
She taught her children to love Jesus, to pray for
anything, and memorize and recite Bible verses and thank God for all answers. Her tiny kids were sweet and well behaved.
We would often baby sit them when Madh and her husband would go on a weekly
date. She spiritually educated her kids well. When I saw her kids, I took a mental note that,
should God some day bless me with a family, that is exactly how I was going to
raise my kids, teaching to learn to love Jesus, pray for everything, thank Him for answering, memorize and recite Bible
verses and try to live by them. Yes! they would learn to pray for big or even tiniest things.
They will learn to thank God in ALL circumstances. One thing that used to floor me is whenever
life threw a curve ball at her, and she was caught in a dire situation, not
knowing what would be the next blow, she would first thank GOD and then turn
and direct her children and me stating, "These are some of the things to say 'thank
you, Jesus for"! ouch! I have watched her sail thru life thanking Jesus
in ALL circumstances. I guess that is why she is more on grace side. She directed me to thank JESUS in ALL
circumstances, and by seeing her do devotions with, and teaching her kids the Bible
verses I have been able to be a better spiritual mom to my kids doing the similar
things. I so appreciate that;
In my family, we grew up away from our parents most of our early years, so we lacked parental upbringing, nurture and discipline! She helped
us see the difference of heart issues vs. legalistic rituals, or on
Fasting, and other religious practices: the difference of responsible freedom vs. abused one, and acts of service out of love vs. must do attitude. These truths
were rather important at that age.
Her solid Biblical wise advise that "Kalpna, don't fill in the amount on a cheque
(check) and do not ask GOD to sign it, but rather leave it blank and allow
God to fill it, trust GOD to
give you His best," aided me in giving up two immature relationships. I was not
only able to get over my early teenage pre-matured entanglement that I had before I knew
Christ, but was also able to get over my then "infatuation". Catch
this: When that person said "Kalpna, I like everything about you, except your
Christianity!" she guided me that, "Kalpna, that way you are
disqualified kabisa (completely), what ever you are, and I am, it is ONLY
because of Christ!" Thank God, for her for understanding, and not dealing
harshly with me, like Paul says, "we were gentle among you like a mother!"
She taught me to respect
myself, and not give in to any temptation; especially physically or emotionally to
anyone before marriage; told me stories of girls who chose to keep themselves
pure. She always emphasized to me and many other girls "To remember the
importance of taking the parents' blessings for marriage, no matter what the
situation, else it shall not be blessed." My own parents trusted her to
be my guardian, both mom and dad trusted her to teach me right things. She
taught me to respect elders regardless of whether I agreed or disagreed with
them, and exhibit for me to answer with a respectful Indian term 'Jee'.
Madh wore a sari in a beautiful, modest way
that commanded respect. I followed her in that area. Her seamstress, a sweet
Shah widow became my seamstress too, who sewed for us both the same simple blouses; and we had the same cobbler also who
custom made our shoes. When we watched movies we particularly watched for a new
yet conservative style in sari blouses and then we would explain to our
seamstress who would watch the movie and stitch for us the similar stuff.
Madh carried "The Godly Woman" book by Navigators in her bag at all times; and I imitated!
Her food:
American: In those days when home made
hamburgers were unheard of, in that part of the world. She and her husband demonstrated to us how to make and assemble hamburgers at home, plus bake pizza and apple pie. Her husband loved her apple pie,and her chocolate
cake was a relish we consumed well as they indicated to eat with vanilla ice-cream! And oh! yes! we would never eat hot dogs, so she is
responsible to introduce me to such classy "junk food". (smiles)
Kenyan: I enjoyed her chips, Mahamri (sweet bread),
Mbaazi wa Naazi (beans in coconut milk),
Banana Sandwich, Chai-latte with bread-butter sandwich and chapos.
Indian: Punjabi: Buttered Paratha, maa-di daal,
lightly fried cabbage.
Gujarati: Rice, Rotli, Mixed Daal-bhajia (fried
lentil fritters), raw pawpaw chili pickle, and posho (French beans & potato).
Her Puris were the best, "melts as soon as you put in your mouth," attested
an elderly auntie Suman.
Chinese: Deep fried chicken, Veg fried rice.
Dessert: Chocolate cake with vanilla ice-cream and
Apple pie.
Her the then best restaurants:
Norfolk hotel: for Christmas luncheon.
Steak house: for Steak, yum!
Railway Royal: for Blanket Chicken
Her Bible verses: "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on
the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
(Psalm27:4)
"I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Psa84:10
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you
shall be saved and your household." Acts 16:31
"Everything works together for good to them
that love God and are called according to His purpose." Roms 8:28
"Even a fool is considered wise, when he is
silent." Proverbs 17:28.
"When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes
even his enemies to be at peace with him." Prov16:7
1 Tim 2:5-6 "There is one God and one mediator
between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for
all people.
John15, "Jesus
said, "You did not choose me but I chose you.""
A great verse that she
shared with me with much passion, while walking from Tom Mboya st. thru
Kijabe St. round about onto Ngara,
"Kalpna, God says in His Word, even your hair will grow white
and yet I will care for you."
Her best Hymn line:
"Hidden in the hallow of His blessed Hand, never foe can follow, never
traitor stand, Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed, finding as He
promised, perfect peace and rest."
Her famous line:
"God never makes a mistake." (She even has this framed in her living room.)
Her kids affirmed that mom has taught,
"Freedom means responsibility."
She reminded time and again, "Kalpna, if ever
you find yourself asking, "God, where are you?" remember that time, that
HE is right where you left Him, so just go back where you left Him and you will
find Him there."
Some know when life throws me a curve ball, I get
rather worked up just too soon in the moment and then I hear her say, "Take it easy, Kalpna, GOD has not left His
throne, God is still on the throne."
She used to say, "You can only be silent when you are confident."-This was so evident in how she lived.
There were times she would
say, "Kalpna, before you sleep, concentrate on three short sentences,
"Jesus I love you, I need you and I thank you." I would do just that
and then I wrote a song about it; check out my CD, "Reach out" to hear.
She would converse with
GOD so as a matter of fact: While driving would ask "God, did you know it
was going to rain?"
She sampled for me a super
great example of what it means to be "Clothed in HIS righteousness alone"
by displaying her sari on me and walking ahead and then turned back to
look at me and showed me "the Lord Jesus covers us like that with His
love, and then when He looks back, He sees His own love that He covered us with!"
I often said, if ever I committed a crime, one
person I will come and confess is Patricia Madhu Sheth! I have seen Christ and
His love in her and like my cousin said,
"Kalpna, Madhuben is many miles
ahead of us in her walk with the LORD, that, that is where, we actually
want to be!" I can communicate sharply at times, yet she knows and
has told me, "Kalpna you think too much, you talk too much" but her
attitude has been graceful towards me.
I think "getting
saved" is one thing but having mentors to help one grow and "stay
saved," in all walks of life, from spiritual, personal, social to
business world is quite another. That is in fact more challenging. Getting
saved is easy, staying on the narrow path and having someone to guide, solidifying
Biblical truths is so very vitally crucial. GOD provided Madhuben for me. That
is why the then senior Pastor John Gichinga of Nairobi Baptist church said, "In
the land where you are going, they have everything but NO Patricias and
Kalpnas!" so true!
I believe it is good to
tell a person all the good things while we can and while they can hear and
feel. I remind people, tell others you love them while they are alive, because
there is no point in giving a great eulogy when someone is no more! so, this my
tribute to her!
Precious Father God, Thank you
for blessing my friendship with Madhuben. I am so grateful that just at a time when I
needed, you divinely chose and brought
me all the way form India to Madhuben in Kenya!
Thank you for touching my life and my world thru her. Thank you for
helping her model for me early in life what it means to be a godly woman in that
culture, and in that day and age. Thank you for guiding, teaching, and standing
by us thru thick and thin. At that time she was a "Jesus with skin
on" for me. The world particularly needs more godly spirited women
like Madhuben to teach, pray, guide, model after and look up to.
Thank you, Madh, for loving me,
for taking me to be as your own flesh and blood. Thank you for teaching me,
guiding me, rebuking me, nurturing me. Thank you for being obedient to HIS call
on your life in little and big tasks He asked you to do, and doing it with love
and grace! God impacts lives thru you, you matter to so many of us! In those
younger years, you were the best coach and role model anyone can dream of. I am
very grateful to God for you, and for saving you, and for your presence in my life. I
thank God for you, and for your faith. I love you, pray for
you, honor you and look forward to the big day when King Jesus will put a crown with jewels on your head, and say, "Well done, my faithful
servant, Patricia Madhu Sheth, come and enter into the joy of your
Master." Madh, I know along with me so many others will also be there
to cheer you, to whistle, shout and clap. So many will say, "Madhuben, I
made it to heaven because of your obedience to Jesus. Thank you for investing in our lives." What a blessed eternity
at the feet of Christ, with you will that be? Rejoicing over your life and
wishing blessings upon you and yours always! It is my prayer that I will walk in your footsteps in this area and go beyond to be a spiritual mom, and a mentor to many who need a Madhuben in their lives. Have a happy and blessed Mothers' Day 2014. - Kalpna
Patricia with my Mom, Germana Christian Patricia Madhu Sheth-my mentor
