Greetings!
Gratitude is something that should be part of every human life. It's a show of appreciation and being grateful for a good deed. An act of gratitude goes a long way in defining relationships. Showing gratitude build bonds and bridges among people. Gratitude to me is a habit that everybody should cultivate. Well, not everybody cultivates the habit of showing gratitude.
To some, people, showing gratitude is not in their habit and this is because, whatever anybody do for them, they believe it's their right and not a privilege. Hmmm, this set of people find it so difficult to show gratitude to people that they see, talkless of God that they've not seen in their entire life and that has been doing great things for them in terms of protection, provision and such other good things and benefits. No wonder there's a saying in my local language that says " A person that refuses to show gratitude is that a thief that carted away goods" .This means, not showing gratitude is an act of robbery that can destroy a relationship. So try to appreciate people and their good deeds, don't think you deserve whatever good being done for you.
So, back to this week prompt, showing gratitude has richly helped me in life, no wonder there's another saying in my local language which says " He whom show gratitude of the good deeds of yesterday, will definitely receive another." This saying has richly benefited me and has helped me to even gain more than I have bargained.
Hmmm! Let me share how showing gratitude has built my relationship with a friend of my dad. In the year 2013.
When I gained admission into the university, there's nothing on me, likewise my dad and all I hoped for was dashed, also, it's during this time that our school and acceptance fee were increase. What do I do? There's nothing to do, so, I was planning to defer the admission, but suddenly and on a particular night, someone called my dad and asked about me. Immediately he asked about me, my dad gave me the phone, I greeted the man in a polite way and we were exchanging conversations. In the course of the conversation, the man asked me series of questions, he asked me about my academics and I told him that I have been given admission, and that there's no hope of meeting up the deadline to the payment of the acceptance fee. When he heard this, he was angry and asked me to return the phone to my dad.
When I gave the phone to my dad, he lambasted him though in a polite way, telling him as to why he has refused to tell him all these, but my dad responded by saying he did want to disturb the man. So, afterwards, the man asked for my dad's account number and the following day, he sent a total of 80k to my dad's account.
So, after receiving the money, I sent a message of gratitude to the man, I appreciated him for his kind gesture towards me and my family. But the man responded by saying "its nothing." . As if that was not enough, the man after a week sent me another 50k through my dad's. So, I called him and he gave me the same response as of his first response. Hmmm! The power of showing gratitude.
Hmmm, thank God I was showing my heart of gratitude to this man, even with all his response of don't mind, it's later that I got to know I have built a strong relationship with the man. So, afterwards, the man will be calling me and our discussion is always like that of father and son, friend to friend. So, since we have become friends and family, the man later catered for all my expenses throughout my stay in the university and as if that was not enough, the man used to give me exam allowance. I could remember a particular day the man called to asked about when we were to start our second semester exam, I told him that we just finished the exam, so, he got angry and said " don't you know I'm supposed to be giving you exam allowance." I was shocked when I heard him saying that. And since then, he has always settled my bills.
What of after my academics? So, after my schooling, the man asked me of what I would like to do, and I told him I would like to do business, so, the man established me with capital to start my business and on my wedding, the man play a significant role even before, ok and after my wedding.
So, see how the power of showing gratitude has really helped me to become what I am today and also, how it has built a strong bond and relationship between me and my dad's friend that has now become a father to me. I have really enjoyed the power of showing gratitude with numerous people. I would have suffered had it been I didn't show gratitude to what he did for me in the first place.
Though, good deeds is not only about money, but there's many things or way in which we can show our heart of kindness to people around us. So, it's not about money or gift alone. It might be in the form of advice or care. No matter what form it takes, show gratitude. This is because it builds bridges and relationships. And relationship is the bedrock of success. It should be habitual.
This is entry to this week hivenaija prompt.
Thanks for reading.
All photos are mine.
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That man was really a Godsent to bail you out of dropping out from school. It's good how gratitude was used to foster the bond👌
Nice one
Thank you sir