𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡

A few years ago, some of my friends got into trouble while trying to defend themselves from a man who attempted to bully them. Because they were more in number, they subdued him and left that evening.

The following day, the police arrested all of them and accused them of assault. Every apology they offered fell on deaf ears. The man simply could not believe that people as young as they looked could overpower him in any way.

They called me to intervene when he insisted on pressing charges.

As I listened, I noticed his real problem. Over and over again he kept saying,

“Do you know how old I am? And you had the effrontery to do what you did? I swear you will not get away with this.”

When he finally finished and turned to me, expecting whatever argument he thought I would make as their “elder brother”, I did something unexpected.

I went down on my knees.

I did not mind that I was dressed in crystal-white attire. I simply knelt and tried to say, “Please forgive us.”

Before I could finish my sentence, everyone present started shouting,

“Ah! Oga please, abeg get up!”

Something shifted.

We exchanged phone numbers, and for the first time in my life, a police encounter ended without anyone pulling me aside to discuss how the matter would be “settled”. Nigerians will understand what I mean.

I did not know my plea would have such weight. I simply asked for forgiveness on behalf of my friends. But humility moved him.

And that is the lesson.

You may wonder why children often get things from you more easily than your spouse does. It is because children stoop. They lower themselves. They ask without pride.

In my lowest moments, I have asked for help, from my Belle, my mum, Ikwue, Vovoms, Emeka, Kevin, Ify, Barbie, McGozy, Uju, Manyam, Gwillany, Frank, Miss P, Foxology, Ceci, Femolat, Auwal, Susu, Stan, Ayang, Iyal, and many others.

They showed up.

They showed up because I asked.

𝐀𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤, 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞. 

Always remember this:

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡.

If you want to understand it better, 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁.

Shalom.