I was having an interaction with @KennieKing through a post on noise cash and we somehow switched into a discussion talking about responsibilities, @Princessbusayo also stated what she was facing with responsibilities. My mind went far thinking about those things but I think we aren't looking in the direction we ought to be looking at.
Responsibilities can bring delay to one journey in life, I have been there, I am still there and I know what it feels like to have so much to do within the family.
Early last year, I talked to one of my old-time friends who is a big boy living on the island. He got my number from another friend saying that, he had been looking for me for a very long time.
I was happy, we spoke a lot and he promised to help me financially to start a business since I had no job. After the discussion, he asked about my family and I said we were living together since I got a three bedroom flat in Ikorodu.
He started vomiting nonsense, when will you stop being too concerned about family?
Why would you live with them?
Don't you know responsibilities bring setbacks?
In the end, he said, "Dee, you are too young for this. I have known you for over a decade and you have always been this family guy, you need to think well about it so that you can grow in life".
I was shocked, I didn't want to have issues with him, not because of the help he promised but because I wanted my story to prove him wrong.
Little did I know that he bluffed about everything he promised and he wasn't looking after his family, that didn't hurt me but everything he said that day still rings in my head.
Is it possible to ignore your family when they are in need?
It is easier to look away but someone with a good conscience won't do that. As simple as the word is, it means a lot to me and whenever I refer to someone who we are not blood related a family, my siblings know I can go to some lengths in helping such a person.
Leaving your family to go through shit while you are living fine doesn't make sense to me because there is no point in you living a better life when they are not.
The most annoying part is making your parent look like they wasted their efforts raising you, I have seen parents who give everything in life to give their kids a good life and it hurts when the child chooses that he doesn't want to be around them because of their responsibilities.
I was young but I see everything when my mom usually sells her clothes to these people they call "paro", she gets money and uses it to cater for me and my siblings. I believed that she see those kids as her cloth in the future that's why she did all of that.
How does it now feel when the child chooses to stay away from her just because he doesn't want to cater for them?
I wouldn't deny the fact that there are days I wish I could run away from the responsibilities because it is too heavy for me but I remind myself about how far we have come together and now is not the time to quit because our struggles are almost over.
There shouldn't be regrets when taking responsibilities because there is a beautiful reward at the end of it, it doesn't have to be from the members you have helped directly.
What if that's one of the purposes why you are sent into that family?
This is one thing I have always thought about because I am of a strong belief that God brought me into the world for a purpose, he could have made me a rich man son but he knew that my family needs someone like me and he gifted me to them.
I have seen people who choose to have fun with their friends when things are getting smooth for them, they go about doing one for the DJ one for the hypeman forgetting the people who were with them when they couldn't afford a bottle of coke.
They have forgotten that these friends won't be there for us when things aren't as good as they should be for us.
I once mentioned a guy who was arrested by EFCC because of internet fraud, only his mother and siblings were running up and down to help him out. Where were the friends he was balling with?
Since it was God's plan, why would I run away from it?
Not doing it would be a sin so I just have to remind him always that, he planted me here for a purpose and he mustn't forsake me and I bless him because he has always been faithful.
Some people have this responsibility and can't cater for them so if you have it and can handle them even though not 100%, you are favored, and instead of complaining, you should always be grateful to God. In my case, I will never be ungrateful to God because he always meets my needs and never disappoints me when it comes to my responsibilities as the first son of the family.
If you can take care of your responsibilities, you should be grateful to God instead of complaining about them.
There is no point in doing what doesn't make you happy because your happiness is what matters a lot, if helping your family doesn't make you happy then don't do it and if it does make you happy, keep on doing it.
It is funny seeing myself giving a life I never had to the ones behind me but it gives me the joy to see everyone happy and that inspires me a lot in life.
I hope you all had a good day, it is raining here and I am enjoying the cool weather.
I made this earlier today and you might want to know why...
So just connect with me on noise cash.
https://noise.cash/post/18n3znrw, I might be coming to prepare this at your house.
Words! Words!! Yours are the words of cowries placed on the essence of responsibilities. I would love to meet you, my friend. My dad equally stays in Ikorodu. Although, I'm a fresh graduate of the University of Benin, currently working in Benin. We should meet up someday.
Some guys deserve serious spanking. Well, I won't waste bandages of wisdom on the wounds of cowardice. One thing is sure. You reap what you sow. Someday, when they become parents, they will eat the same Egusi soup they gave to their parent(s).
" Na breakfast. Them must collect"
Thanks for this content. It's an amazing piece.