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Don’t be a Sinkhole

  


I

t was a Wednesday morning, the last in the year 2020.  I woke up with my eyes still heavy because I barely had good sleep that night. I had a meeting scheduled for 10 am that day, little did I know that a simple talk over breakfast would take my entire morning.

As he asked how I and the family were faring, my Uncle whom I have not seen for a year delved into sharing some life principles with me. He told me from his experience why I have to be patient with life, and all that I shared here in my last piece (“Add these to your backpack). Truth is, I felt he was consuming my time until I began taking notes before I realized I needed the pep talk to enable me to finish the year on a high reflective note.

“Walnshak” he called out as if to get my complete attention, “in this life, don’t ever be a sinkhole that takes in but never gives out". At first, I didn’t grasp why he would tell that to me until he went ahead to say that: "in life, the most selfish kind of people are like sinkholes, they don’t only want everything for themselves but they take in more than they need at the moment and never gives out even when needed".

S

o enough of the conversation I had with my Uncle, let’s talk about the sinkhole. Truth is, we do have people who are indeed the true description of what a sinkhole is, all they care about is themselves. Yes, it is not bad to care about yourself, but it becomes an issue when all you think about at all times is yourself and how to get all things to yourself without thinking about others. Sinkholes are self-centred and self-obsessed. This world will never be a better place if you and I think only about ourselves.

Sinkholes don’t add value to anyone, they don’t reach out to anyone, and they don’t put themselves out there for the greater good of humanity. Learning a helping hand to another is alien to sinkholes, they would not lift a finger for the good of another. Giving is not found in their collection of vocabularies. Permit me to ask you, are you a sinkhole in any way? To not be a sinkhole, you must learn the act of giving and cultivate the life of giving.

We all have been blessed with one gift, talent or ability or another that will benefit humanity. When it comes to giving, don’t only streamline it to money. You can give your time to another, and that will mean the world to them. You can share your wisdom and knowledge with another, and that will be enough. For another, all they ever wanted from you is a listening ear or an act of service. What I am saying, in essence, is, don’t be a sinkhole trapping your value and resources in without giving it out to glorify God and edify humanity. Whatever God has blessed you with, give it out.

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iving is not an act but an attitude, it is not only an attitude but a life formed and established based on kindness. Giving entails putting yourself in the shoe of another to feel his/her pain, and out of your little or abundance, step in to save the day. Givers always see the best in others; they know that by giving to others they are on their way of becoming the best.

Giving defies the giver and magnifies the receiver. When you give, you share your life with the receiver, and forever, he/she will live to remember you. Giving is a life that in itself begets life, it is a seed sown in the life of the receiver that over time will yield fruits that will benefit not only the receiver but all around him. This may surprise you when you give, you are displaying the attitude and life of God.

When was the last time you give? It is one thing to have and it is another to give. Again, it is one thing to give and it is another to give without grumbling. When you give, give freely, without grumbling and cheerfully. At the unfolding of time, you will realize that givers are sowers. What you sow and how you sow will largely determine your harvest. When you have, give, when you give don’t regret; and when you don’t have, do not feel guilty when somebody asks you. For people give from the depth of their hearts not the top of their purse.

Thank you for reading

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