Celebrating my sister who mothered me

On August 3, my sister, Roenna, celebrated her 60th birthday. Her family and friends marked the occasion and gave glowing tributes.

Roenna is the eldest girl for my mother, Cynthia, and late father, Willard, and she displayed maturity from an early age.I recall that from early as her teenage years she was helping our father, a Methodist preacher, with his sermons and preparing the order of worship service.

Subsequent to Roenna graduating from the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now University of Technology), she worked at PriceWaterhouse as an auditor.She then started her mothering role. I spent five years with her while I was at Calabar High School.She wanted me to stay with her at rented premises off Swansea Avenue, Red Hills Road.Nobody in our family knew very much about Calabar at that time. The family tradition was for the boys to board at Munro College. As for the girls, Marva went to Excelsior while Roenna and Leonie went to Morant Bay High School. However, Calabar was near to where Roenna was living and hence she thought it would be a good idea for me to attend Calabar. And what an inspired action.

Caring for other siblings

But Roenna not only mothered me, but her other siblings as well.There was a time when her younger sister, Marva, and younger brother, Ainsworth, all lived with her and she was the head of the household.Only her older brother Leon, did not benefit from her mothering, and it shows in his behaviour. Hers was a well-managed home. She was caring, loving and disciplined.She was a good cook too. One by one the other siblings left us. Then she got married to Michael Lopez, who taught me to drive. The union produced two children, Marlon and Simone. Roenna invested in her children's education.

Roenna reminds me of Barack Obama's grandmother.You might ask, how? Early this month I attended the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Janeth Black, a Jamaican living in Hawaii, took us to President Obama's childhood abode.Obama did not grow up in a detached house, but in a rented apartment.It is said that Obama's grandmother lived most of her adult life in rented premises and invested in the education of her relatives, including Obama.Roenna also invested in her children's education.Her children went to Alvernia Preparatory and then to Campion College. Her daughter went on to complete her Master of Science degree.

Prayer warrior

Roenna is a member of Mamby Park Baptist Church and is regarded as a 'prayer warrior' or intercessor. She takes everything to the Lord in prayer and knows a God who answers prayers.

The example of my big sister who mothered me is worthy of commendation. She is following a biblical example. Most persons believe and behave as if the predominant model of the family in the Bible is nuclear, meaning husband and wife and two children. However, throughout the Bible the model was the extended family.Jamaica has had a history of grandmothers, aunts, big sisters and step fathers playing leading roles in the development of families. And people are recognising more and more that what was common in rural Jamaica of a village raising children is a model worthy of emulation.

So, as we celebrate Roenna, my sister who mothered me, let us re-commit ourselves to investing in our children's education, pursue a vibrant prayer life and mother children who are not our own.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'The Cross and the Machete: Native Baptists of Jamaica - Identity, Ministry and Legacy'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.