Let us remember to give back.

I am writing this post because I just watched a video on youtube that reminded me of how fortunate and blessed I am and I was moved to want to do more. Growing up in Lagos, seeing beggars on the street was as common as seeing a poster of the latest Nollywood blockbuster. They were everywhere and I never really thought twice about them to me they blended into the background that made Lagos the city it was.

At the age of 10, I had an eye-opening experience with one of them. No, it isn’t what you are thinking I didn’t suddenly see them in the light they probably wanted me to but I saw them in a negative one. I remember the day clearly I was on my way home from school. Back then my school was so far away a school bus had to ferry me to and fro from school. The bus had almost reached its final stop but it was held back by a traffic warden, I was staring out the window probably dreaming of lunch when I looked down and saw a beggar really close to the wheels of the bus.  This particular beggar sat crossed leg on a small wooden plank with wheels underneath it. From initial assessment anyone who would have looked at him would come to the same conclusion, he was unable to walk.

I was instantly horrified, I thought the bus was going to crush his already damaged legs and I turned to raise the alarm about what was about to happen. However, something made me look back, I am not sure what, maybe I wanted to be sure the wheels would touch him or to assess how much time I had to stop the bus from moving, but I looked back. All I can say was I definitely wasn’t expecting what happened next.

This person saw exactly what I saw and I am guessing he did not want his legs to be crushed by the bus either, so he did the logical thing, he stood up moved away from danger and sat back down. He looked up to see my confounded face, laughed and continued on his way. From that moment on I never trusted anyone I saw begging for money. I believed they were all scam artists after my money.

As the years passed and I no longer saw the world through the eyes of a child, I could clearly see two things. I was fortunate and I was blessed. There is so much suffering and pain in this world, that I sometimes feel guilty that my worry is more about what am I going to eat today and not do I have anything to eat today. I often come across stories that make me kneel down and pray and say thank you, lord, that you picked me to have the life I have.

Maybe it was my prayers that finally, wiped that horrible memory from my mind, and allowed compassion to replace the distaste I felt for people in need. So I give back, in as many ways I can, I sponsor a child and a drug addict so both can have the life I have, I volunteer as often as I can and I donate to worthy causes. I came across one such cause, we all hear about internally displaced people in Nigeria. These people have been pushed out of their homes through no fault of their own. And now live lives none of us would wish upon anyone we know.

Let us extend a helping hand. I know things may be tight for everyone, I assure you I am feeling the pinch just as much as everyone (why is it life gets more expensive the older you are) but from my experience, I have found that the more that you give, the more you will receive. Please donate if you can to this cause https://www.gofundme.com/shipping-food-to-nigerias-idps and help feed those who cannot feed themselves. Thank you