When I was still a primary school student, I used to have this neighbour who was close to my family and I but who wasn't earning much at the time.
She was a young graduate who had just gotten married but was earning little as her family was still trying to get its feet, but there was something she was always doing at the time that looking back now, I know it was from a place of love.
http://www.newtonsnews.net/2014/11/12/try-a-little-kindness/
Whenever we met at the Bus Stop on my way to school then we would always board the same bus every now and then.
She wasn't exactly going my way all those times (as I was always 'Obalende-bound' while she on the other hand was going on a very short distance
Of less than 7 minutes), but she does something.
She'll ask that I come sit on her leg while in the bus after which she would pay for my destination, but alight at hers that's not even half way mine.
Now, the ideal thing for her to have done was to pay for herself and I, but because she didn't have enough to go round, she'll simply 'lap' me to her office bus stop after which I'll continue to the last bus stop.
Now, that's liberality.
I do not quite appreciate people who are not liberal. Liberal in the sense of being nice and sometimes generous towards other people, as your strength can carry.
Some people do not know how to extend a hand of fellowship via giving, yet they desire to receive in return.
Some people are so rich to the point that their bank accounts are stashed with enough money to go round generations, yet, they do not give.
Even if you 'ask' nay 'beg' them for assistance, they subtly turn you down with many story lines.
You meet him or her (who you obviously doing better than financially) at the Canteen or Bukka, and then something in you suggests that you should extend a hand of fellowship (because of course, you can) by at least paying for their meal then you go like
"Erm... Have you paid?" you hear a "yes, I have paid" response then you go... "Eya, I thought you haven't. Was going to pay for yours but don't worry, next time" while discharging them stylishly.
“Whatever happened to you saying "Erm, Madam. Give am back im money. Add am to my bills or .oya, take this money as my payment for your lunch?"
Just because the person already paid before you asked, you now leave him/her disappointed after giving them clues of how you'd have paid for their food, and causing them to have long throat...lol. Not cool.
You board a bus and in similar vein see someone you know whose younger than you obviously and who an extra 100 Naira would obviously be making a huge difference to, and you can well afford to pay for his or her fare o, but again you ask, ''have you paid?". Again, he already paid because he sat in front, he paid already, then he gives you another "yes, I've paid" but instead of you to instruct the bus Conductor to return the money so you could pay for you both, again, you smile and say 'Eya, I been wan pay for you o, but no worry, next time."
Chai!
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Look, you really DO NOT have to be rich before you touch a life. I know someone would say "Ehen, how's he/she my responsibility?"
Well, I well understand that too but the truth is that we are all fighting our different individual battles that no one knows, and these little acts of kindness that we show to others are sometimes the strength we need for the next step we are taking.
You can be liberal even with that 10 thousand Naira that you think is nothing. You can be liberal with that pot of soup you have made for your children and which you think won't reach an extra mouth. You can be liberal with that clothe you have condemned, and which you think is out of vogue. To some, it would be Christmas clothes for another 5 years consecutively.
So Friends, no matter the toughness of the jungle, we can still be liberal.
Lap that young student (of same sex as you) who is clearly stranded at the bus stop because of course, INSUFFICIENT FUNDS!
Add that remaining 50 Naira to the fare of your next seat neighbour that's at the verge of being thrown out of the bus by the Conductor.
Restore that smile, and cause that bead of sweat that's formed because of nervousness from public bus wahala to dry up.
Feed that hungry child and help pay up the balance of that single mother or widowed woman's rent.
Look within you and think of how to reach out. Nothing is too small and yea, nothing is equally too big.
Sow your seed in morning, in the noon and evening. You never know which would be blessed. You'll never know which would blossom. You'll never know which God will be leveraging on to lift you.
As you make efforts today, be sure that the universe and divinity are taking note(s) and in due season, you'll be grateful you yielded.
Good morning and have a wonderful day
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