GIVERS NEVER LACK-THE ACT OF KINDNESS

We have all heard this phrase at some point in our lives I am sure, “Givers never lack”, and it is quite true. The Universe takes care of people who gives. From the heart. Sharing is indeed caring, and it is fitting that if you see another in distress and it is possible for you to help that person, do so. Assist if you can, do not worry about a thing when you give and when you do give, do so with clarity of thought and mind, meaning do not think about it or even wonder if you are doing the right thing, you are. It is good to be kind, unfortunately many people were not born with that trait. To be able to  willingly give, is a burden to some, they em and aw, and they go along life’s way taking and keeping for themselves, never sharing. This attitude is not only wrong it is sad, because the Universe acts like a boomer rang , whatever you sow it is what you will reap., you cannot go around it.

To be included among the generous is certainly a good thing. Be warned however, give without encouragement or pressure, there is greater than you who resides within time and space who records such actions, so give at your will and never by the urging of others, let it be recorded by the Universe that you have this tenderness within naturally . To be generous and kind strengthens character, it forges for you a great reward, which is more than what or all you have ever done for anyone, in your life time. There is a sense of joy when you give, if you have never felt this, then you have never given freely and from the heart. I loved Oprah for this very same act that she would do on her shows on television, and before you all come at me and say, Obara, Oprah gave away things from sponsors for promotion, nothing came from her pocket and yaddie yaddie yah, it matters not, what led to it and how it helped others is what matters. Remember people are led by examples. The very act of her, her team and sponsors organizing these things to be done on National television could move another to pay it forward, or tug at the heart strings of some viewers to help. Seeing what Oprah has done on her shows could  spark someone into random acts of kindness such as hold the door for someone, pay somebody a compliment, smile at someone, pay the toll for the car behind you, donate blood, buy coffee for a stranger,organize a food drive, run an errand for somebody, cut your neighbors grass, baby sit for a friend, donate clothing, let someone go ahead of you in line, donate some books, give your time for your community. If by doing this on her show can prompt someone into helping others, then Universe has used her for the greater good and that is a wonderful thing.

Aside from that I believe that she is naturally a generous and kind human being, it radiates from her person. In the Muslim religion there is what is called the five pillars of faith, they are Shahadah, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.  Zakat is the third  pillar which teaches the social responsibility of giving, much like Tithing in the Christian church. These, both Zakat and Tithing are acts of faith. These are responsibilities given to members of these religions, as acts of faith. It matters not what is done with it, concern not yourselves if the Pastors or the Imams have  purchased another home, or a new car or has given his wife or even girl friend a diamond ring. What matters is that you gave. You gave from your heart, from the little or much that you have, you gave. There is a great importance spiritually behind the act. What you gave, money or other wise actually means nothing within the realms of the Universe who watches and governs over  human beings upon this earth and our actions, it is merely the act which is recorded.

As a child growing up in Jamaica, my mother instilled in us to be kind. She would often tell us that if we saw someone in need even if it is an enemy and he or she needs water we should give it. I am the only one out of my sisters who seemed to have taken in that lesson and for all my life I gave. Giving does not have to be money, it could be your time, your love, your patience, it can be giving someone a place to stay, or food, clothes or any type of assistance, any act of kindness. It is simply the right way to live, I believe. We must be the shoulder for another regardless if you  do not even know the person. Years ago someone I knew told me a funny story. The Story may not belong here in this post but I was some what touched when I heard it, and I even laughed. She told me that a friend of hers was home alone with her children, when suddenly her door was kicked in, she screamed when three gun men rushed in, guns in hand demanding money.  She cried while trembling and told them that there was no money, she went on to shout through tears that she could not even feed her children and that she owed three months rent, and she had no green card to even get welfare, she was suffering. The gun men realized by then that they had the wrong  house and headed for the door, however, one turned back before he reached the door pushed his hands into his pockets and pulled out a hundred dollar bill and threw it on the bed to the woman, den cut, (he left).

I do not want to spend time on this post telling you about charities and all that, we see celebrities doing this all the time and for whatever reasons, and although that is nice, what I want to get across to you is the importance of giving of yourself in the whatever way you can, knowing that you did it from a place of love, kindness, compassion and care. These are attributes which makes you human, when your heart sinks or softens when you see someone who is begging and they seem to need something and you can stop and give whatever you have, or assist them in any way you, have shown compassion, empathy toward another. The act and the feeling which goes with the what you have done sends a light out there somewhere within time and space. You have done the right thing. When you give, do not speak of it as in boasting or bragging, when you give or assist do not, when you get annoyed or angry bring it up as a reminder or press it as a thorn in the side of the receiver. This attitude is wrong, to quarrel over what you did for someone or to bring it up at every opportunity is akin to you never doing anything at all. Remember it is the act which is important, but if the intention behind the act was not good, then your assistance or what you gave becomes null and void.

My mother while growing up was a good cook, anything she cooked tasted great, and often times when she cooked she would cook as if she was expecting an army. I asked her once why did she always cook so much food every day, and she told me that it was the right thing to do, as you never know who could drop by and needed a plate of food. Everything my mother taught me, I took in. I admired her and believed her to be all I wanted to be and more. So when I lived with the children’s father I began to do the same. I myself am a very good cook, so I began to cook and anyone in the neighborhood who wanted food I would give, often time I would call my family, (when I had them) and they would come for food. The Wicked Baby Father  saw this and it did not sit well with him and so he told his equally wicked mother, (remind me to write her story one day), and of course she called me. The phone rings, I pick up and say “Hello”,…. “Obara?” it was her evil voice on the phone, deep and very distinct, it had been the source of my pain from the day I got with her jerk of a son, I sighed silently and said “Yes”, “my son has told me that every time you cook, he sees pots and pans and plates and spoons flying through the window”,.. “Huh?”, I answered, because I had no Idea what she was talking about, she went on to tell me that her son complained that I was too kind and would give away everything, (I wish that I was brave to give away EVERYTHING, then he would have had something to complain about) and he was tired to see people lining up at the door for food, Food??..I really don’t remember what I said to the mother, I was never rude to her however, because although she was wicked and sinister as they came she was an elder and I knew enough to leave her to God.

What bothered me was that the money that was used in buying the food was always mine, he gave me nothing, once he gave me the beauty salon, that was it, I had to fend for myself from my earnings. Yes he paid the rent but that was it. So to complain to this woman I did not get it.

I have seen the gift from God in how I live my life, No matter what I go through in life I always come out better and stronger and I am forever provided for. It has always been my children and I alone in this world and I have managed to give them a life where they have never been made to suffer or gone without a nights meal, homeless, naked or otherwise. God has always provided for me, as I provide for others out of whatever I was given. When My mother told me to leave her house after pregnancy, I carried with me the need to assist anyone who had no where to live. I use to bring home with me people who were either put out of their homes, or coming from Jamaica and had no where to go. One such girl I met in my shop, I wrote about her on here before but the name of the post escapes me now, however, I took her in after she had a falling out with another person I knew  who was her sister in law.

They had a huge fight and it was done at my shop’s door. The sister in law told her that she could not come back to her house and I as usual took her in. She came to live at the house with me  and the children’s father and soon after her best friend came from Jamaica and she also came to our house. One day the wicked one and I had a quarrel, he had slept out the night before and came home the morning as if all was well. The argument was huge but he had never placed his hands on me from the time I knew him up until that morning. I walked out of the house and left him there with the same girl who by now had been living with us for about two months, she did not work so I supported her. When I went back in the wicked man grabbed me and we began to fight, I was shocked. He hit me. Stunned by his actions, I cried all day. That night when he came home I was still crying, to see that the relationship although filled with problems had come to blows, I wondered my next move. I wasn’t about to be a beating stick for a man, and my mother always told me that once a man put his hands on you he would not stop.

When he came in, I was seated in the corner of our room, the baby was in his crib asleep. He came in to see me curled up in the corner of the room on the carpet still crying, probably seeing me like that touched his cold heart and he came over to me and touched me and I flinched away from him, he paused,  then sighed as he hunkered down to where I was and told me that he was sorry. He went on to tell me that I had to get rid of the girl from out of our house, he continued to say it was because of her why he lost it and hit me. Apparently when I left and went outside, the girl used the opportunity to tell say to him, “You allow her to speak to you that way, If I spoke to my man like that he would have killed me?” , She seemed to mock him he said and when I came in her words rose up and that was when he attacked me, by now he had lift me up and I was in the circle of his arms and he rocked me back and forth in his attempt of comforting me,  and on that night, he became human again as when I first met him.

After her some others came along the way, I still did not stop, I just could not see anyone in a bind and not help, there were times I would even pay people rent. I have never been thanked, None have ever returned to say thank you, or how are you doing, but for one who now lives in San Francisco, God Bless her. Yet, I feel no way, I truly do not. I did all that I did out of the kindness of my heart and the willingness to do so. Givers never lack, caring is sharing, being kind is the best way to be.

Find that place in you where you can feel for each other. When you give, do so without thought that “if I do this God surely will bless me’, let it be from the heart, I cannot stress this enough. Know that what you do in life returns back to you. Many people are living off their parents blessing, the kind acts of parents prepares for the child blessings which will aid the child throughout life. Giving away half of your sandwich to someone who needs it is something great, you never know what tomorrow holds. Helping someone across the street or an elder with their bags are indeed great acts of kindness, give money if you have it to give, do so. Do not think about what they are going  to do with it, God will witness them, do it because it is the right thing to do.

Bí igi bá rorò, ó níláti bá igbó gbé. /
Even if a tree is fearsome, it must still cohabit with the others in the forest….Yoruba Proverb

[It’s good wisdom to pursue peace, always.]

All Religions are valid as long as it teaches peace of love…Obara Meji!

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
― Mother Teresa

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
― Winston Churchill

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

“Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them.”
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
― Francis of Assisi

“Give freely to the world these gifts of love and compassion. Do not concern yourself with how much you receive in return, just know in your heart it will be returned.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free