I was surprised when he shook
her with both hands instead of hugging her and I thought to myself “who greets a girlfriend like
that?”. Well, they got talking and I wasn’t paying much
attention until I heard him say “congratulations again on your 40th birthday
ma”. I’m sure my ears literally stood up on hearing those words and I caught
myself just in time before putting down the paper I was reading to look again
at the person he was referring to. I couldn’t help it though, I eventually
stole a glance and was amazed that someone her age could look that young and
agile.
From
that moment on, I couldn’t help eavesdropping on their conversation and
gathered that he was a relative that had been asked by his mother to see his
aunty about getting a good job in Abuja after his youth service. She was rather
influential in the media industry and chances were high for him to get a good
placement if she made some contacts on his behalf. After making passing remarks about the need to exercise a lot, eat right and take lots of water, she then appeared to drive the
conversation in a different direction when she asked him why he wasn’t doing
something major with his talents. He replied like most people would “Aunty K, I
don’t have enough money to start” to which she answered “do you remember your
Sunday School stories?”. I guessed he was as surprised as I was when he
retorted “Sunday School?”. As though expecting him to be surprised, she smiled
and continued saying “Yes. Sunday School and in particular, Joseph's story and that of the widow
and the prophet”. They sounded unrelated until she started speaking and
drew out principles from both stories.
“Like
Joseph did in Egypt” she said, “you need to learn to keep aside at least
one-fifth of your income monthly so as to raise the funds to finance your
dream. While you’re working in an organization, you’re paid to help the company
make the money you’re paid. You need to pay yourself first dear; that way, even
if you needed further assistance, you’ll have something on the table. Everyone
has something to work with. I observed he was listening to know where the
conversation was headed; that made three of us - me, him and me again. She continued saying, Like the
prophet asked the widow, ‘what do you have?’, there are four places you should
look to answer that question; your head – what ideas do you have? Your heart – what are your passions?
Your hands – what skills do you already possess? and your home – what resources
do you already have? Savings from your salary could fall under the last
category.”
I
didn’t quite make out the rest of what she said immediately afterwards because
my phone rang and I had to go outside to join my friend who had asked me to
wait for him at the eatery so we could go check out a property together. As we
rode along, he observed I was making a note of some of the things I had just
heard. He was curious and we discussed some of them. He was impressed and asked
“who was she anyway?” I answered saying “a stranger I wish I met decades ago before I started working for anyone.
Adebayo Martins | #iMuse | TUE.18.07.2017
(Head, Heart, Hands and Home analogy heard from a message preached several years ago by Reverend Sam Oye)
(Head, Heart, Hands and Home analogy heard from a message preached several years ago by Reverend Sam Oye)
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