A young girl name Ijeoma went to school in the neighbouring village where she wasn't known too well. For three weeks, she came to school late and every time the teacher punished her. On the fourth week. Ijeoma did not attend school at all and many thought she had given up on school due to the everyday punishment. However, Ijeoma came again on the fifth week and this time she came earlier than everyone in the school. When the teacher came to the class, Ijeoma was punished for not coming to school for the previous week but the teacher was also kind enough to commend her for coming early that day, stating that the punishment had finally yielded some result. Just then, Ijeoma asked if she could be allowed to say something and the teacher obliged her. She started; I've been raised up by a single mom without a brother or a sister, five weeks ago, my mom fell sick and was hospitalized. The three weeks that I came late, I had to prepare something for her every morning and pass by the hospital to deliver the same. Unfortunately, she passed on last week that I did not come to school at all. We buried her last Friday. And today I came early since I don't have to prepare anything or even pass by the hospital. And now that she is gone, I will always be punctual from now. As she was sat down, no one in the class was able to hold back their tears, not even the teacher. Lesson: How many times do we judge others for things we know not?, we ask questions like; when will you get married?, when will you have kids?, when will you find a job?, when will you buy a car?, when will you build a house?, and host of others. Do we attempt to understand their situations or we just judge from the case scenario? Some situations are not related and what we think could be very far from the truth. Don't assume you know what others go thre or that people move in the same pace or direction as you. Life is far from that... Just be kind enough to love one another as God has commanded, take time and kindly find out why your friend is not phoning, why your messages are not being replied promptly, why they haven't visited, why they are not coming to school, worship and why someone is missing in our midst as a colleague in the office, why someoneis always late etc. Be kind always. Be nice to others and always and put a smile on someone's face today.
