What Truly Matters
This lesson cost me… literally!
So… I had to go to the cold store in my neighbourhood and my budget was GH¢200. As I got dressed, I made a mental note of what I was going to get and what I’d buy in the market with the change. As I prepared to leave, I put my money in my back pocket and some tissue in my front pocket. I heard ever so faintly: “Put the money in your front pocket and put the tissue in the back pocket”. I felt that wasn’t really necessary. After all, I was going on a walk that was less than 500m away from my house. I got to the cold store, placed my order, and I confidently reached into my back pocket for my money as I was told the total price of my purchase. “That can’t be right”, I said to myself in disbelief as I searched frantically for the 200 cedi note I had put there. All I felt was an empty pocket and guess what? There was a small hole in the pocket! Oh no!! I didn’t want to believe that I had lost my money. After a few seconds of trying to convince myself that I had probably left the money at home, I decided to go back and look for it. Thankfully, I’m a regular at the store and the owner knew my house so she gave me my order when I let her know that I’d bring the money later in the day. It was kind of embarrassing to be honest because two other people were around but that was the least of my problems. I was focused on going back home to miraculously find my money. As I made my way to my home, my eyes swept across the ground and my heart skipped a beat every time I saw what looked like a red paper. The moment of truth was when I got home and discovered that my money truly could not be found. To say I was disappointed when I didn’t find it is an understatement. The feeling of despair was real, and I tried to shroud it with a positive attitude, but I was crying inside. Regrets and many ‘should haves’ and ‘could haves’ filled my mind, and it took a few hours for me to be at peace with my loss.
From this experience, I understood
that when something is important to you, you need to treat it with care. The
cash was way more valuable than the tissue, but I ended up putting it in the
back pocket and putting the tissue in front. I put the valuable thing where I
couldn’t monitor it, but I put what had no value at an important position. How
many times do we relegate those who are valuable in our lives to the background?
How many times do we treat those who don’t really value us better? We treat those
who are valuable like they will be there forever, but we forget that life has a
way of happening in a way that seasons change and people leave. Regrets fill
our hearts. I should have treated them better. I should have held on a little
longer. I should have been there for them. I should have… But many times, like
what happened to me, these regrets come in too late, and nothing can be done
about it. When we search for that connection frantically and we cannot find it,
we realize that the things we didn’t treasure were what was important all
along. When we prioritize the fickle and perishable, we lose sight of what is
truly important, and the gifts God has placed in our lives. We look back and
wish we had done things differently or loved wholeheartedly. This is your
reminder to do this. To be there for those you love, those who have proven that
they will always be there. There is nothing worse than wishing you had loved
and cherished them better.
So, don’t be like me, put
the valuable things where they truly belong, where you can hold on to them and
make sure that they do not get lost. In a place of value where the risk of losing it is low. It’s time for an audit and
sifting. If you can’t do this on your own, pray to God to filter your
friendships and relationships. Trust me, you’ll save yourself from many regrets
and sorrow if you do. He is your Father after all, and He wants what's best for you. Do not learn things the hard way… like I did!
Cheers to being intentional
about what truly matters 🥂.
With love,
Rosaliz.
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