One of the things expected of every human is showing kindness to people around them since it's a way of preserving humanity. Even the holy book made it clear that we should love our neighbors, and helping someone in time of need is an expression of love. If there is one thing I really enjoy doing, it is helping someone and it breaks my heart a lot when I can't be of help to someone who needs it at a particular time.
Just to help someone, I have done a lot of unexpected things that I didn't even think twice about. Imagine a help that puts you in a tight situation. I wouldn't mind doing it as long as it wouldn't take away my life. The most important thing for me is that I was able to put a smile on someone's face by solving his or her problem.
I am one of those who help others not because I am expecting anything in return, it just makes me happy whenever I come through for someone, and this feeling is something I love to experience over and over again. I believe that whenever I render help to someone, I have automatically inspired that person to help someone else whenever they are privileged to do so.
I have always expected nothing in return, and even taking a "thank you" sometimes feels uncomfortable for me, and despite that, I have had some unpleasant and heartbreaking experiences that broke my heart in the course of helping. Humans will always be human, and sometimes I wish people could think and stop being an ingrate, I wish they knew that their actions could prevent someone else from getting a very important favor.
A few years ago, I almost got into trouble at my place of work, and it could have been a dent on my reputation in the company. After rendering that help and it backfired, I asked myself a lot of questions and didn't believe that I found myself in that situation.
I was opportuned to head a mobile sales team, and I never treated my workers badly. I saw them as a family because we spend a lot of time daily and we have achieved so many things together. They were all family men, and I know how challenging things could be for them financially, so whenever they needed my help, I don't hesitate to do the needful.
Things were fine until one of them got sacked even while on the sick bed. This particular guy had an accident that almost claimed his life, and I didn't believe that all the company could do was to sack him. I looked into his case and found out that it was his third severe accident due to how he recklessly drove his sales bike.
After recovering, this guy came to me begging that he had nothing to do and surviving was challenging. I spoke to HR about reconsidering due to his fantastic sales record, but every effort I made was futile. While still trying to fix things on his behalf, another staff member wanted to quit the job, so I came up with a plan.
Instead of informing the company about the guy who was going, I didn't since it would be an opportunity to help the guy who was sacked, and to make things easier, he would work with a tricycle not bike.
I did the necessary things that involved salary and succeeded, which made me happy. Everything was set, but this guy couldn't pick up products from any of our distributors because his name had been removed from the system, so I stepped up to pick up the goods on his behalf. I went against the company policy, but it was good as long as he would be able to provide for his family and wouldn't betray my trust in him.
I picked up products worth over one hundred thousand naira for this guy, and he set out to make sales immediately. Due to the trust I had in him, I didn't even monitor his sales and just let him do his thing as usual.
He didn't show up in the evening for me to take stock, and I waited patiently till the next day, but this guy still didn't show up. He didn't pick up my calls at a point, and I knew there was trouble. Every effort to find him was futile, and reporting at the company wasn't an option. I couldn't share my problem with the team because words would spread, so I kept things to myself. I was searching for him while the distributor who gave me the stock was on my neck.
The distributor finally threatened to report to the office, and I had to take my savings and sacrificed my salary to clear the debt. I still couldn't get this guy, and my biggest problem after clearing his debt was that he has the company's tricycle. My boss started getting suspicious when the tricycle didn't have record of it getting gas or maintenance at the office.
I involved a few people, and we were able to retrieve the tricycle, but this guy didn't show up. I felt broken going through all the stress and wished I had just let him bear his cross after he was sacked. If he hadn't messed up, he would have worked as long as I was there without anyone of us getting into trouble, but he chose himself over whatever we shared.
The guy unbelievably showed up asking for forgiveness months after everything, and I told him to pray to God because he only taught me a valuable lesson about life, which is true. I learned that putting my wellbeing on the line to help someone is a terrible thing, and it tells why the Bible emphasizes that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, not more than ourselves.
The experience didn't stop me from helping, but it made me think very well before taking any decision, and my relationship with people determines what I can do for them. I honestly do not expect someone I helped to always tell me thank you and the best way of repaying or appreciating someone's kindness when there is an agreement is to keep to the agreement.
Image is mine
