Celebrated journalist John-Allan Namu offered a poignant reflection on the essence of time and love in a letter to his late mother, Wanjira. During a requiem mass celebrating her life, Namu revealed the letter, aptly titled “TIME,” written when his family realized her days were drawing to a close. The letter encapsulates the profound bond between a mother and her child, transcending the physical and flowing through the unseen currents of love.
The River of Love
Namu’s words evoke the imagery of a river, symbolizing the fluidity of time and the enduring nature of love. He compares his mother’s love to a river whose first wave touched him even before his birth, a love so eternal it predates memory. “You loved me before time began its march against us here on earth,” he writes, portraying his mother’s love as a constant, an ever-present force that shaped his being.
This river is more than a metaphor for love; it reflects a mother’s unwavering presence and her sacrifices. Namu recalls her enduring physical pain as a badge of honor after his birth, her radiant hugs, and her grace as she aged. These memories highlight the intricate interplay of time and love, where each moment with his mother became a cherished drop in the river.
Time as Teacher
For Namu, time is not merely a thief robbing him of his mother’s physical presence but a teacher unveiling deeper truths. Initially, his “foolish heart” equated love with her tangible presence, but time revealed that her essence transcended the body. “What I thought was my enemy is my teacher,” he confesses, recognizing that his mother’s legacy lies in the love she embodied and imparted.
Through her acts of love, Wanjira became more than a mother; she was a storyteller, a source of courage, and a wellspring of wisdom. Her lessons taught him to wield words with power and purpose, shaping him into the journalist he is today. Her courage, even in moments of despair, instilled in him the understanding that love is not fleeting but foundational, capable of enduring life’s most turbulent storms.
Grappling with Grief
The inevitability of loss brings Namu to a heartfelt confrontation with his grief. He admits to the human instinct to cling to the physical, expressing the anguish of watching time slip away. “Tears well up without warning,” he writes, illustrating the raw pain of impending loss. Yet, amidst the grief, he finds solace in the eternal nature of his mother’s love, a love that serves as a window into understanding God’s infinite love.
Namu’s reflections reveal the duality of time: it is both a relentless force that takes away and a gentle teacher that gives meaning to life’s transient moments. He acknowledges the struggle to reconcile these truths, confessing his fear of being “hollowed out” by his mother’s absence. However, his faith in God and the enduring nature of love offer a path to healing.
A Timeless Legacy
As Namu bids his final farewell, his letter becomes a testament to the power of a mother’s love to transcend time. “Your love is my window into understanding God’s love,” he declares, underscoring the eternal bond between them. While grief is an inevitable part of his journey, he trusts that time will mend his breaking heart and deepen his appreciation for the legacy his mother has left behind.
In “TIME,” Namu captures the essence of love and loss, offering a universal message of hope and resilience. His letter reminds us that while time may carry away the physical, it cannot erase the love that shapes us, sustains us, and ultimately, defines us.
