The holidays were a that of joy, love and small acts of kindness that filled me with gratitude. One of the experience that I doubt if I could forget was that of the one where I helped an old widow sell her plantain and groundnuts, it was a sunny afternoon, I knew her around and went to the market to return some changes to my customer who had made a mistake in calculation, she was delighted and offered me a drink to appreciates that I could even return the excess money she gave me, well after much pressure I received the drink. It was on my way back that I saw her, Granny (the widow),we often call her granny in the neighborhood, she was visibly stressed, she barely had customers around.
I decided to branch by, she does not do this, ehy take such task up at an old age, and a time as this where everyone was you know, she's here sitting in smoke, well I was less busy. I sat with her on the bench after greeting her and helped her call on to passersby to patronize us, I once hawked stuffs before, so I know my way around people, I did it jokingly and even stood up to address some people, I had this smile on my face, I guess I remembered when I do hawk too, It felt like a game, but it worked.
By the end of the day, she sold everything. Her smile was priceless, and she told me that she need the money to help her buy school supplies for her grandchildren who came to stay the holiday with her, it wouldn't be good if they returned back to their parents empty handed, I was speechless and wished I had some money to help add to it. Seeing her smile and heart of gratitude makes me fulfilled and also knowing I made a small difference in her life was the best gift I could have received.
Another memorable moment was during our neighborhood Christmas carol. We went door to door checking up on people, but this year, we added something. Each house we visited, we handed out small nylons containing rice, groundnut oil, and some sweets for the children. There was this family we visited, I guessed they moved there when I esdnt around, a single father with three kids, he looked surprised when we handed him the nylon.
He was obviously happy, hr invited me in as hr saw I was the most eldest amongst us all, I told the others to continue that I will be joining them soon, he shared how hr had been worried about making jollof rice just for the children to experience the festive season, he was glad, I left after giving those kids a little amount of money enough to buy soft. I realized that sometimes, the smallest gestures can create the biggest impact.
And of course, there were also moments of pure fun and laughter. My cousins and I organized a small football tournament for the kids on our street. And mid you, we didn’t just watch, we joined in, running around like carefree teenagers. It was fun. The joy on their faces, the cheering, the occasional shouts over goals, the fun when a little kid dribbles an elder, you know that feeling right, it was all so fun and lively. We ended the day with chilled Kunu and doughnut, and even though I had blisters on my feet, my heart was full.
And then, just yesterday while thinking of when to return back, I checked what I have done, its totally unlike me, I barely go out, so am sure everyone would be surprised seeing me home this time and doing all those things I did, then I recalled this elderly woman, she stayed in the next street. I decided to pay her a visit with a pack of milk and bread. She was so happy, she couldn't recognize me at first, and when she did, she almost carried mez if not for her fragile and weak body, she ended up telling me stories from her youth, stories of how Lagos used to be back in the day. We laughed, and I left her place gaining a piece of history and strengthened a bond that had been long overdue.
What stood out this holiday was the connection. Whether it was through helping Granny, sharing joy with the single father and his kids, and all, I realized that the true spirit of the season is not the glamour but in the relationships we nurture and most importantly the lives we touch. Every smile I encountered, every "thank you" I received, and every laughter I shared made this season unforgettable. These experiences reminded me that kindness is good and the joy from it is second to non and that in giving, we receive much more in return. Looking back, I am grateful for the chance to make small differences. It was one(a holiday) filled with meaning, and I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.
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