on being grateful
When I used to stay in Rubaga, I’d take taxis on the upper side of the Old Taxi Park. There was this really really really old lady who I always passed by. She always smelled of pee, and looked like she’d never taken a shower her entire life. Seriously. She would sit amidst her pile of rags, stinking like no man’s business. She never used to beg, she had very small bundles of what looked like bwino (henna ink, I think), and I guess that’s what she would sell for a living.
I passed by this same route every single day, and she was always there, and I always told myself I’ll give her something one day, “when I can afford it”.
One day, I had an exceptionally good day, and was heading home, floating on cloud nine. Then I came to the old lady, and suddenly I just stopped. I pulled out my wallet, pulled out a 10k note and stooping down, handed it to her.
She reached out, and instead of grabbing the money, grabbed my hand and pulled me down till I was squatting right infront of her.
The stench was overwhelming, and since I was right above the park, I could feel like a million eyes were staring at this crazy man. I was embarrassed beyond belief.
She smiled at me, and looking deep into my eyes, she prayed.
Yup. She prayed.
She prayed for almost five minutes, and heaped blessings upon my embarrassed head, and said deep spiritual things that I never dreamed would come from one such as her.
When she finally let me go, and took the money, I walked to my stage with a feeling I can never describe to this day.
In the midst of a pile of stinking rags and stale urine, I found an old, dirty and destitute woman who changed a certain part of my life.
And to this day, there are some things I never take for granted.
—
There are so many things we take for granted. So many things we complain about. Our issues, our problems, our stomachs, the shape of our heads, our brokeness, our general lives.
I need to ask you something that might seem a little wierd:
How thankful are you?
Do you ever stop to be thankful that you can actually afford to have a certain class of problems?
Like being broke, wondering how you’ll get home and what you’ll eat. Some people don’t have a home and have never known a hot meal or warmth their entire life.
Or you never wear skirts or shorts because you think you have bad legs. Some people wish they had legs to begin with.
Or you complain endlessly about the noise from next door, or from your office, or from your boyfriend or girlfriend. And yet some people would give anything to be able to hear that “noise”, and respond to it.
You are tremendously blessed, beyond all your problems, all your misery, you truly are blessed.
So go on, today, this weekend, whenever. Just bless someone else, even when you cannot afford to do so.
Let them know a small sliver of love, it’s all they might ever know.
—
Offtopic
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?”
- William Arthur WardFeeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
- William Arthur WardThou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
- George Herbert
19 Responses to “on being grateful”
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Miss Cheri on December 5th, 2008
SOCKS!?
Miss Cheri’s last blog post..Extreme makeover- President’s Edition
Nevender on December 5th, 2008
I am not going to scramble for socks because this has truly moved me. Yes I was about to complain about me and my zibs until I read the last part-
“Just bless someone else, even when you cannot afford to do so.
Let them know a small sliver of love, it’s all they might ever know.”
You are really blessing me King. Honestly this is giving me butterflies and serious brain waking. . .then I was speechless.
Nevender’s last blog post..Waiting for Mr Money.
Miss Cheri on December 5th, 2008
Phewks, thought I’d lost those ones. I need all the socks I can get. It’s too cold.
Aww, touching story. But 10k? U’e like Baz who bribed a traffic cop 20k.
Truly nice gesture and true about being grateful for the little u have.
Miss Cheri’s last blog post..Extreme makeover- President’s Edition
petesmama on December 5th, 2008
Wow - deep! I will ask for a grateful heart too. It is easy to forget how blessed you are.
The Emrys on December 5th, 2008
dope deepness, reminds of a T.D. Jakes sermon i watched last week. he was talking about thankfulness
The Emrys’s last blog post..1001 Tales - Freefall
Teti on December 5th, 2008
Wow. Deep. Thought-provoking.
*Off-topic: I cannot remember what the 10k note looks like. PANIC!
Teti’s last blog post..Merry Christmas!
Tandra on December 5th, 2008
banange everyone stole my word! (((deep)))
Thank u.
Tandra’s last blog post..Stupid blogger
Solomon King on December 5th, 2008
@Little Miss, yes, socks!
@Nev, I’m glad this touched you.
@Little Miss, lol, yes, I bribed an old lady with 10k
@Pete’s Mama, too easy indeed, especially in this economy of now now mine mine.
@Emrys, did you know TD Jakes is called “Dexter”?
@Teti, a 10k looks like this: *holds up a 10k note. Muahahaha
@Tandra, most welcome.
Erique on December 5th, 2008
The question u asked isn’t weird at all. It calls for deep reflection. Thx man. Some insightful stuff
The Economy » Blog Archive » The Rogue King » on Being Grateful on December 5th, 2008
[...] She would sit amidst her pile of rags, stinking like no man’s business . She never used to beg, she had very small bundles of what looked like bwino (henna ink, I think), and I guess that’s what she would sell for a living. …[Continue Reading] [...]
scotchie on December 6th, 2008
You are so right, we have a certain class of problems that require gratitude. we whine about failed internet connections, traffic hold ups, parking tickets and dry pizza crust, the musics too loud…
when right beside us are those who have no idea what we are talking about!! they dont have computers, would be glad to go somewhere even if there was traffic, would give anything for the dry crust…some people have never heard any music!! I can’t imagine being deaf…musicjunkie that I have become, I’m thankful that you have pointed out so beautifully how lucky we are!!!!
scotchie’s last blog post..Pet Peeves. Vol. 1 (edited version)
Emi's on December 6th, 2008
Touching story…..I can’t remember the no of times I’ve not been grateful.. This has got me thinking “what about the others?” Am off to ponder & meditate
Emi’s’s last blog post..Adventure
Ugandan girl on December 6th, 2008
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanxsgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in christ Jesus………..whatever is true, what ever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praise-worthy- think about such things.
Philippians 4:4-8
Ugandan girl’s last blog post..Strange Happenings
Sybella on December 6th, 2008
thank you for this solomon… sometimes we do forget that with all the blessings we should be grateful every single day…
Sybella’s last blog post..Look Beneath the Surface
Mudamuli on December 8th, 2008
Thank you for this, Solomon. I’m humbled.
Yvonne on December 9th, 2008
…lately, being thankful is something I’d have in my grip for one day, only for it to be knock out of my hand with anger and resentment at people that I love and care about over the flimsiest of issues, like using my bathroom and not mopping the floor after the’ve taken a shower, then the anger or something just as sinister would nudge me to find something else to be mad at (this happened last night and I feel terrible for taking it out on my kid sis, I’ll hand it to her, she realised I was having a terrible evening and kinda just let me vent, while she watched T.V.) I’m grateful for family, for friends, for bloggers, for jobo, today was my second day 6-10am on 94.8FM, and more grateful for you pointing this subject out,
thank you
Yvonne’s last blog post..Hindrances to answered prayer(3)
Mr. B2B... on December 10th, 2008
Dawg
you are seriously upping the ante for reflection huh!
Mr. B2B…’s last blog post..Quoting_12_Time
The Rogue King » may my works be pleasing in your eyes on December 11th, 2008
[...] we’re still on the subject of being grateful, another thought for you to munch [...]
Heaven! on December 15th, 2008
thanks for this.truly!