•Tonto Dikeh and her late mother, Mrs Veronica Dikeh
Actress Tonto Dikeh has marked what she described as ‘one of the most painful days of my life’ with an emotional tribute to her late mother, Veronica Dikeh.
In an Instagram post, Dikeh said she chose to celebrate her mother’s life rather than mourn her death.
“Today happens to be one of the most painful days of my life. Yet, stepping into God’s grace has taught me that even in the deepest pain, I must learn to trust the Lord and surrender to His will,” she wrote.
“So today, instead of mourning the woman who was taken from me by death, I choose to celebrate her. I celebrate her strength. I celebrate her beautiful heart. I celebrate her unwavering faith and the way she carried herself before God. Today, I celebrate my mom,” she added.
The actress revealed that she spent 37 years without a mother and only now understands the value of the word.
“For 37 years, I lived without ever knowing what it felt like to call someone ‘Mom.’ And now, I understand just how precious that word truly is,” she stated.
Dikeh celebrated her mother’s strength, faith and character, and urged the public to cherish their parents while they are still alive.
“If you are blessed to still have your mother with you, please honour her. Love her. Appreciate her. Call her. Hold her a little tighter. Forgive the little disagreements. Cherish the ordinary moments, because one day, those little fights and those huge expressions of love may become the very memories you would give anything to experience again,” she wrote.
She added that she would give ‘anything’ for one more moment with her mother, but chose gratitude instead.
“I would give anything to you right now to hear your voice, to have those little fights, to feel that huge love, and simply to have one more moment with you. But today, I choose gratitude over grief. I choose to celebrate the life you lived, the love you gave, and the faith you left behind,” she said.
“Love your parents. Honour them while you still can. Mom, wherever you are, I hope you know that you are loved, missed, and forever carried in my heart. Love and light,” she added.
Dikeh has previously spoken publicly about her childhood and her journey to reconnect with family.
