The Power Of Kindness. My Experience In 2023.

I remembered the day i was traveling from Nasarawa State to my hometown in Imo State. We didn't leave very early, and somewhere in the middle of the journey, our vehicle suddenly broke down. We were in a lonely area, around "otukpo" in benue state, far from where people lived, and there wasn't a mechanic in sight.

All the passengers came down from the vehicle, hoping that somehow we would find help. After waiting for a while, we were fortunate to see a motorcycle rider passing by. He agreed to help the driver and took him to a nearby village where they eventually found a mechanic. A few hours later, the mechanic arrived and repaired the vehicle, allowing us to continue our journey.

The delay meant we traveled deep into the night. By around 11:50p.m., the roads were almost empty, with only a few vehicles passing occasionally. A few minutes after midnight, we finally entered Imo State.

As the journey continued, the bus stopped at a community where most of the passengers got off. Soon, only a handful of us remained, mostly men. My destination was still a long distance away, and I suddenly realized I was the only passenger heading in that direction "Eziama".

Little fear crept into my heart.

It was well past midnight, and at that time, Nigeria's security situation was really worrisome (even now though) . Traveling alone to my village at that hour was so unsafe. I didn't have enough money to book a hotel, the only money I had was the 1,000naira I planned to pay a bike man when I get to the junction that leads to my village. I didn't know what to do.

The fear on my face was very obvious. Then a lady who had been on the same bus reached her own stop and asked where I was headed. I explained my situation to her. she looked at me and said, "Why don't you come to our house and spend the night? You can continue your journey in the morning."

At first I hesitated, I didn't know if I should go or not. I barely knew her, we had chatted casually about school stuffs during the journey, but following someone I had only just met into their home required a great deal of trust. Still, I had very few options. I reluctantly accepted her offer, I came down from the bus and followed her, as I was going I was quietly praying and asking God for protection.

When we arrived, she introduced me to her family and explained everything to them that I couldn't safely continue the journey to my village until daylight.

To my surprise, her parents welcomed me warmly. They didn't question me suspiciously or even make me feel like an inconvenience. Instead, they prepared a place for me to sleep, treating me with kindness and generosity, even though I was a complete stranger.

Though the remaining hours of the night, I won't say I slept like a baby, I was sleeping but also half -asleep.

At dawn, I thanked them after for their kindness and continued my journey safely to my village.

Years have passed, but I have never forgotten what that family did for me.

Their kindness made me to know that even in this world where we constantly hear stories of danger and distrust, there are still people whose hearts are open to helping others. They didn't know whether they would ever see me again. They simply saw someone in need and chose compassion over fear.

That experience changed the way I think about kindness. We may never fully understand how much a small act can mean to another person. A place to sleep, a helping hand, or a few comforting words may seem ordinary to us, but to someone else, they can become a lifelong memory. I would also like to help someone who is in that same situation if it arises.

Kindness doesn't always require wealth. Sometimes, it simply requires a willing heart.

If each of us choose to help where we could, this world would become a better place for us . I will always be grateful to that lady and her family for reminding me that humanity is still alive.

Image by ChatGPT.