Man pays different price, in different ways, and for different things. Price in this context is sacrifice, what one gives up in order to have another. Amidst sacrifices or prices we pay are:
We many at times give up our personal comfort to accommodate people, especially our loved ones. As students, we squat friends who do not have accommodation. As brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews we accept and accommodate relations even when there is challenge of space. This may sound strange to Westerners as their practice of nuclear family system contrasts a lot with our extended family system.
Hard earned resources
I had a chat with a colleague and friend yesterday. We x-rayed the economic situation in Nigeria and how it has affected our families. He told me how weak he was in saying no to people and how extended family members have exploited him due to this weakness. He said that now he transfers his salary to his wife's account immediately he receives it to make it difficult to get back when those distant family members come for money.
The truth is that we sacrifice our hard earned money to maintain our bloated relationship in this part of the world.
Life and blood
Strange, one will say. Yes, we do for our families. In this part of the world, we put our life on line in trying to provide for our families. We work day and night, do strenous work that takes toll of our life, accept hazardous jobs, all for the family to feed. We work sore our bones even as university graduates just to provide for our loved ones.
Night rest
For past one month, I have been unintentionally keeping awake to read, comment, upvote, and post on steemit. The sacrifice I make to be a good and active steemian.
Money from other sources
Here is not Europe where technology is cheap. We pay through our nose to get data. Many of my African brethren do not cover what they spend to stay on steemit. Reason some many don't stay, some are lucky, others persevere.
Inner truth
There are things we don't say or express because we want peace. We sometimes keep our relationships going by suppressing some inner truth. For example, telling your husband or wife or child that they are not intelligent. Even though it may be true because they fail exams, it may have a devastating repercussion. What a sacrifice.
How much can I sacrifice?
Can I sacrifice my bed for a visitor?
Can I sacrifice my meal for a stranger and pretend that another is in the kitchen when there is non?
Can I sacrifice my holiday trip and assist that woman in need of money for kidney transplant? Everyday, young people are on TV begging for assistance to travel to India for kidney transplant. And government is busy sponsoring people on pilgrimage.
Can I sacrifice my seat on a public transit for a senior citizen knowing that one day I will become old too?
How much sacrifice can you make?
THE END
I will be grateful to have your take on this topic. I will thank you if you upvote and resteem.
Till then, thank you for reading my post.
You may wish to check out my other posts.
https://steemit.com/africa/@ebohio2008/no-summer-holiday
https://steemit.com/whalepower/@ebohio2008/maslow-hierarchy-of-need
https://steemit.com/whalepower/@ebohio2008/whalepower-a-supporting-group-for-minnows
