Month: June 2016

Can you show love to someone you don’t know? Can you help someone who isn’t related to you without expecting even as little as thank you from the person? Can you give your time and resources to someone who in future may become ungrateful?

I watched a South African drama film, “LITTLE ONE” yesterday. Movies hardly move me emotionally (after all everything is scripted and acted) but this one tugged my very soul until I vowed to share it with you. Often times, we are faced with difficult choices. What if I do this and it turns out bad? What if I help and it backfires? Watching Lindiwe Ndlovu made me realize that it’s OK to take risks. It’s OK to worry but that shouldn’t stop us from trying.

Imagine this: You’re driving one evening or strolling and suddenly you see a battered child of about five years by the road side. Not knowing whether she’s dead or alive, you rush her to the hospital. Not caring whether the police will accuse you of being responsible for harming the child or the hospital will accept the child.

Let’s say you get past all these hurdles, the child lives. You again go out of your way to find out why the child became a victim of violence; all this while the child is staying with you. Alas, you must return the child to her mother knowing you’ll never see her again having gone through a lot to keep her. Well, that’s what Lindiwe did.

You might be faced with something different from the scenario above; perhaps not as extreme as this or even worse.  Try not to walk away from every opportunity life gives you to lend a helping hand. The last time you made someone smile, how did you feel? I am so sure that whatever it is you felt was nowhere near sadness.

Don’t let experiences overshadow the goodness in you. Learn from them and see better ways to work around them. Make a vow to help at least one person every week. Mind you, it doesn’t have to be monetary; there are many more things you can do.

 

Image Credit: News24

Growing up is still one missing part of a puzzle I have either not found or simply couldn’t solve.

Mother always had a way of sounding the alarm every time I acted ‘Childish’. Though her voice was tiny, it was firm enough to pass the message.

My pride was slaughtered many times, much more than I can even recall, yet, I still never grew up. I headed out to college at 18 and tried not to fidget in my MAC 121 class. Perhaps the lecturer was just mean or I simply ran out of luck for out of 51 students in the class that morning, it is me he picked to answer the question; to give an answer to a lecture I barely listened. ‘You have a lot of growing up to do’ he said, as my mouth parted but no words came forth.

Four years through college was enough for me to learn and grow. ‘Can Miss. Martha come forward to give her valedictory speech?’ I could visibly read the envy on people’s faces as I made my way to the stage.

The rest of the hours went by sluggishly as we impatiently waited for our Chancellor to give the closing remarks. ‘Now, ladies and gentlemen, you have allowed the school to pass though you, it’s time to pass through the world. The time has come to grow up… Ermmmm… is it just me? Did I hear him say ‘the grow up’ thing again?

I turned 25 yesterday and my colleagues at work threw a surprise party for me. My boss was called upon to say a few words. ‘Martha, it’s good to know you’re still growing. I wish you many more years’.

Tis then I concluded that growing up knows no bounds and has no limit. So, never be afraid, worried or upset when you’re told to grow up or you’re still growing. *WINK*

 

Image Credit: McKinsey