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The Mystery of Giving by Henry Ukazu

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“Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see” – Mark Twain

Greetings my good friends.

We are gradually coming to the end of the year. I guess it will be right to say compliments of the season because we are already in the month of December. If you are familiar with the Christmas season you will agree with me, it’s the season of love and one of the greatest ways of celebrating the Christmas season is by sharing with the less privileged in the society. As Christians, the hallmark of Christ love was displayed when he died on the cross for the salvation of souls. The Holy Bible recorded that Jesus Christ gave up his life for the redemption of our sins. That singular act of dying on the cross is what I call selfless giving. It’s on this note we’ll be discussing the art of selfless giving.

In today’s’ article, we shall be discussing the mystery of giving, how giving can be a blessing to you; how giving can open doors of opportunity for you and the different kinds of giving that can create impact. In our today’s world, a lot of people underestimate the importance and power of giving, they forget that when you give cheerfully, it comes back to you. They don’t realize that we become successful by what we get and we become happy with what we give. What we give includes our time, wealth, and energy. All these deeds are all used to create impact for humanity. According to Maya Angelou “People may forget what you say, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel”. What matters most in giving is not how much you give, but the manner and attitude you give. Your giving should be able to put smiles on the faces of anyone you meet on the street. Never looked down on anyone except you are helping them get up.

You can tell more about a person by what he or she shares. Giving can be relative to time. Most people spend their time on what they value. They put their mouth where their money is. There’s real joy in giving. True givers have a feeling of fulfillment when they give. The way you give speaks a lot about you. Most people give to please the gallery. According to K.J Watts “Character is doing the right thing when no one is looking”.That is why Dalai Lama said Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions; and Mother Teresa beautiful caps it by saying “Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier”

Giving is a gift, very few people posses this gift. Most givers are regarded as philanthropist. Great philanthropist like Tony Elumelu, Bill Gate, Mike Adenuga and Mother Teresa are passionate about empowering humanity. If you are not called to be a giver, it will be hard for you to give even if you have surplus to share. However, giving can be cultivated and nurtured especially when you meet a giver who has been blessed with the mystery of giving. Just like prayers is the fastest way to get prayers answered, in the same manner, giving is the fastest way to open doors of opportunity. In my little experience in life, I have since discovered that you’ll get whatever you need faster when you help other people to get what they need. There’s nobility in giving. To understand the mystery of giving, try spraying a perfume on a friend, you’ll discover that a part of the fragrance will be left on your part. That fragrance implies that you are also blessing yourself in double folds. A lot of people find it hard to share, but the truth is that great people are the people who share when it’s most uncomfortable for them. For me, when I look back to see the kind of favors I have received in recent times, I honestly feel they are because of the deeds I have sowed selflessly through giving and helping other people to achieve what they need. One of such favors was when I supported a young author in sharing his works and moderating his book launch, after the event, he was kind to introduce me to the President of his College and the rest they is history. Another interesting opportunity which opened doors for me was when I supported one of my mentors to organize an event, during the meet and greet session I met the Senior Vice President and Provost of Medgar Evers College. Fast forward to two years later after I published my book, I reached out to him and he was kind to support my work in addition to recommending my book to his College. I can go on and on, but as the sage will say a word is enough for the wise. My humble advice for you is, if you have the opportunity of helping others, please do, even when it is difficult to share.

Another component part of giving is the setbacks and challenges that comes with giving. We live in a world where some irrational beings can be ungrateful. These set of individuals makes life difficult for people with good intentions to stay aloof due to the sad experiences they have encountered when they assisted other people. The point here is that, you might have a heart of gold to share, but some ungrateful minds might want to use it as an opportunity to steal or deprive other people who are truly in need. This is what makes most people to desist from helping other people, but Mother Teresa has encouraged us never to be deterred from giving or assisting people. According to her;
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered, Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people will accuse of ulterior motives – Be kind anyway
The good you do today maybe forgotten, Be good anyway
If you find happiness, people may be jealous Be happy anyway
Give your best anytime and at the end you will discover it is between you and God, It was never between you and them anyway. The moral of this statement is that do good just because it is good to be good not because society or organizations wants you to do good.
One of the ways to know a person or to find out the interest of any person is to find out what he or she does with his/her time. Personally, I like to share because it makes me happy. You can tell who a person is by what he/she spends his resources on.
Giving is one of the most fundamental laws of success. Giving and receiving operate in the same dimension like the law of karma. The universe gives you what you give. It’s that simple. Practicing the Law of Giving and Receiving is simple: If you sow love, you will reap love, if you sow opportunity you will receive boundless opportunities, if you want wealth, help others prosper.

Giving and receiving are different aspects of the same flow of energy in the universe. In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives. Let me share some practical guidance to giving. According to Deepak Chopra’s book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he outlined giving as of the laws of success. Let’s share some of this teachings as it relates to giving.

GIVE DAILY
Giving is not reserved for special days like birthday, valentine and anniversaries. It should be done without season as you go about your daily lives. Whether you are in the bus, on the street, market, social gathering, find an opportunity to give by sharing a smile, passing a cup of water to one in need, or even give someone a compliment. Trust me, it to goes a long way to put smiles on the faces of the person. These are The Little Things of Life which can make a huge difference in the life of someone in need. What is important in giving is the attitude you radiate when give. When giving, don’t give in a condescending manner, rather give with a sense of hope. Giving helps to radiate a feeling of gratitude. If you really want to understand what the value of giving can do for someone, give a beggar a penny or food to the homeless, no matter the size of what you give, you will be amazed how grateful the person will be. The true joy of life is not happy you are, but how happy others can be because of you. We live in a world filled with frustration and one of the ways we can diffuse this feeling is by sharing love and empathy to the world. The best gift you can give is to leave someone feeling a little lighter than they felt before your interaction. It should be noted that anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given. It is the intention behind your giving and receiving that is the most important thing.

RECEIVE GRATEFULLY
Every act of receiving is an act of giving. When you happily accept a gift, you give pleasure to the giver. Think about giving something to someone you love. Imagine the happiness and opening that unfolds as a result of your gift. Now imagine that your friend or loved one refused your offering. You would most likely feel disappointed, sad, and empty. When you receive a gift or favor from someone look at the intent as opposed to form that will enable you to appreciate the deed.

REPLENISH YOURSELF.
You may agree with me that givers never lack and you can never give what you don’t have. As givers, it’s highly imperative we apply wisdom when giving. Giving is relative to health. If you have a family or friend you are taking care of, wisdom entails that you also have to take care of yourself. In the same manner, when you give, be rational about it. The best way to express this thought is by following your conscience. Your conscience will never deceive you. Nobody feels a particular feeling more than you. Always remember, whenever you give cheerfully, you are opening doors of bountiful blessings.

BE PRESENT:
The best use of your time and resources is by making ourselves available for humanity. It’s very good to give attention to the cries of helpless people around us, this is because giving is the language the deaf can hear and feel while the blind can feel and see. As you journey towards life, always have at the back of your mind many people are carrying heavy burden in their heart, little acts of kindness will go a long way to make them feel accepted and loved. Life’s most precious gifts are the intangible ones, including attention, appreciation, and affection. When we pay attention to someone, we are fully present and listen deeply, without stopping to check what’s going on around our environment. When you give or share an opportunity, don’t see it as an obligation for someone to pay you back like they owe you a favor, if you have such mentality, you have lost the value and blessings that come with giving.

In conclusion, I will strongly advise you to give whenever and wherever you find an opportunity because you just never know what might happen the next second. While carrying out this noble act, always remember the words of Mark Twain “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see”

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com

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Opinion

Dele Momodu: Charismatic Gentleman @65

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By Yemi Edun

Aare Dele Momodu is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable names, voices, and personalities to emerge from the world’s most populous Black nation Nigeria.

Anyone who has travelled with Bob Dee would understand the magnetic presence he carries from Atlanta Georgia, Accra to Nairobi, down to Central London. He receives nods of admiration, requests for photos, and warm pats on the back wherever he goes. A true cultural ambassador, effortlessly at ease in rich native attire, which his commanding presence makes look truly majestic, he wears native outfits like royalty.

He is a consummate storyteller, an indefatigable workhorse, and one of the most selfless and hospitable people I know. His generosity is legendary. Mention Dele Momodu at any Marriott Hotel in East Africa, and you can expect the red carpet to be rolled out.

I was stunned at Kotoka International Airport as immigration and customs officials broke into chants of “Ovation! Ovation!” while we walked through, it was surreal but perfectly fitting for a man so deeply respected.

Bob Dee is at home with the old and young, with royalty and regular folk alike. There are countless moments that reflect his goodness, but allow me to share just one:

In Summer 2023, while holidaying in Accra with my family, Aare generously assigned his Ghanaian chef to us for two full weeks serving delicious meals until we had to kindly ask him to pause! Not long after, he flew into Accra and hosted us at La Chaumiere his favourite upscale French restaurant, where his presence is evidently cherished.

As my daughter and I prepared to return to London, we discovered shockingly that her passport had expired just a day earlier. I had to remain behind to resolve the issue. By divine timing, Bob Dee called to check in, and upon hearing the situation, immediately sent his driver. We spent that night in his elegant Accra home.

The next morning, using her Nigerian passport, we flew into Lagos. On his advice, I contacted Mr. Governor, and thanks to that call and Bob Dee’s understanding of the terrain, a new British passport was issued the same day.

Happy Birthday, Aare. A charismatic gentleman, who treats all with warmth and deserved respect.

@yemiedundf

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Opinion

A Tribute of Grace to My Younger Brother, Dele Momodu, @65

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By Mama OluwaBunmi Adedayo

My Beloved Aburo,

Your heart beats with the rhythm of compassion,
Your laughter softens the storms of men,
And your pen—yes, that mighty pen—has built bridges where once stood walls.

Today, I speak not only with words,
But with the rhythm of gratitude,
The poetry of love,
And the dance of legacy.

You are more than a name—
You are Dele Momodu.
A spirit of honour.
A vessel of humility.
A generous soul.
A quiet strength wrapped in dignity and thunder.

In you, kindness flows like a river,
And generosity walks hand in hand with wisdom.

You have fed minds, lifted voices,
And sewn hope into the very fabric of Africa.

You write—oh, how you write—
With fire, with elegance, with truth.
You publish, you speak, you dream aloud.
You carry the soul of a president, even when the title passed by.

But allow me this honest moment:
As I turned through the pages of Ovation Magazine,
I searched for a picture of us—
You and I,
Captured in joy, frozen in memory.
But it was not there.

*Yes, I am jealous!*
I say it with a loving smile.
It’s alright… this time.
But when the next milestone arrives,
*When seventy comes knocking—*
*By the grace of God, we shall all be alive.*
And when that time comes,
Let my picture rise with yours,
Let our laughter live in history.
Let it not be forgotten—*again.*

So, as you are honoured today,
And as voices rise in celebration,
Know this, my dear brother:

You are deeply cherished.
You are profoundly celebrated.
And I—your sister, your friend, your family—
Walk with pride in your light.

May joy crown your 65 years,
And may heaven prepare glory for your 70th.

With all my heart and prayers,
Mama OluwaBunmi Adedayo

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Opinion

Towards a Non-Violent Local Government Election in Lagos State

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By Tola Ogunnubi

The upcoming July 12, 2025 Local Government Election in Lagos State is a litmus test for the 2027 general elections.

The election of executives at the grassroots level to run the affairs of the Local Government has always been a mixture of peace and violence between leading political parties, aspirants, indigenes and settlers in the various area councils. Local government elections is a critical element of democracy and governance which provides a vital pathway for new political participants to engage communities and impact governance from the ground up in their quest for good governance.

In Lagos State, elections have always been characterized with violence and peaceful conducts. Clashes between APC supporters and main opponents’ supporters from the PDP have been reported from various parts of the state like Surulere, Agege, Amuwo-Odofin, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo and Kosofe LGAs of the state.

Election violence can diminish voter turnout, influence election outcomes, and erode public trust in the electoral system raising concerns about the legitimacy of results according to Yiaga Africa. Political parties should ensure that the local elections is not a zero sum game, whereby the winners takes it all and the benefits of good governance is limited and retained to only party members and loyalists.

The violence that led to the death of Jide Badaru and one other with several people injured in August 2018 in Surulere Local Government should not be allowed to happen again. According to the cousin of the deceased Mr. Babatunde Badaru, a former Local Government Chairmanship Aspirant in his accounts of the violence that characterizes elections in Surulere LGA.

The wanton destruction of properties, continued threat to lives of opposition supporters should be a thing of the past. Since it is a grassroots election, the African communal sense of being should be displayed during the elections. Perpetrators of electoral violence and their sponsors should be arrested and should be diligently prosecuted so as to deter others who see violence as a viable pathway to electoral victory.

Tola Ogunnubi ANIPR wrote in from Abuja Abuja

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