When what we are giving seems little or we are not satisfied, we begin to grumble and sometimes talk bad about the giver or choose to love one Aunty over the other, measuring and comparing the standard of gift we get from them.
Thank goodness for the wisdom acquired over the years. I now fully understand the sacrifice people make in order to give to others.
Our parents make huge sacrifices to provide for us, we must appreciate them for them. Some parents bear children and are totally incapable of providing for them.
Giving is a gift not found with everyone; not everyone is wealthy at heart. A rich heart couple with a rich hand finds it easy to reach out to others. Giving is an act of kindness, and we need both a rich heart and a rich hand to do that. The scripture has warned us about giving grudgingly; it doesn’t attract divine blessings.
If you are lucky to find a man with the qualities above and willing to give, an act of appreciation will further melt their hearts to do more for you. Some people are very rich at heart and willing to give at all times, yet they do not have the means, while some others category of people are only rich at hand but not willing to share their resources with anyone.
The same way appreciation opens many doors, ingratitude can close your door to opportunities. I was taught that if I thank people for the little they offer me today, I am definitely creating the room for them to gift me more tomorrow, first to be appreciative of the crumbs we receive today so that we can be qualified or find worthy to receive a loaf tomorrow. The entitlement mentality is now dealt with since I am now in the position of being responsible for others and totally understand how hard it is to give, especially when we give people out of the little we have.
I once had an ophan living with me; even though she has a family, my place felt a bit more at home than with her other siblings. We were family friends, and even if there were no ties between us, I would have willingly housed and clothed strangers in my home.
While she had stayed with me for a while, I started looking out for plans and ways in which I could assist this young adult. We got so free and talking that she knows of my personal secrets and income.
Having this knowledge, she kept feeling that I was meant to do more for her than what I was already doing. Housing, clothing, and feeding her for free wasn't enough.
In my spare time, I have marked out plans for her, tutored her on the benefits of skill acquisition, and owing a personal entrepreneurial job/business for someone of her state who wasn't privileged to attend school since there was no sponsor and I was getting overwhelmed raising my own siblings in school already. I felt that it would be better for her to learn a skill and start her own little business. She can always go to school later with the proceeds from her business.
Having made inquiries on where she can learn skills and I was willing to pay for the training fee, she wasn't pleased with the idea and nurses the feeling that I should raise her in school and do more for her; this was totally beyond my reach at the time, and out of nowhere she picked her bag and eventually left my home to find her way in life. I left her to her fate and prayed that she would understand someday.
She wasn't appreciative of the little I could offer, and till date she has been roaming around the country with no help from anyone. At a point I heard that she was looking for me since I have now relocated from my former place of residence. I wondered why she is all out looking for me now, but I'm not sure I can assist such a one again unless God places it in my heart to do so. I am equally an orphan and know what it means to be in her shoes, but she wasn't ready/willing to start life small or even go through half the labor I endure. I'm life to earn a living; all she wants is for me to make the money and give her the kind of life she desires.
Images are canva edited
Here is my response to the daily # inleo, you can check out this link to participate in the contest.