Don’t postpone kindness, you may never get another chance (2), by Aisha Musa Auyo
The second story that inspired this reflection is the death of an acquaintance. She was the HR of a company that once offered me a job as an editor. We had exchanged emails, and I went there in person to explain why I couldn’t take up the role. That first visit also turned out to be my last. The company’s owner is a friend, so it was easy to discuss things openly.
After hearing me out, she understood my situation as a young mother. She said she had once been in my shoes, and she offered some warm advice, assuring me that the company would always welcome me if I was ready in the future. As I was about to leave, she asked about the fragrance I was wearing. She said, “The whole office is filled with your scent. It’s so calming.”
I explained that it wasn’t a regular perfume but Turaren Wuta (incense) and humra. She smiled and said she was familiar with them but had never come across such heavenly scents before. I promised to send her some to try.
It was a casual conversation, but I took it to heart. I packed black and white humra with some incense and gave them to my driver for delivery, as I was travelling at the time. Days turned into weeks, with excuse after excuse from him. When I called her, she said she never got his call, and even if she wasn’t around, he could have left the package at the office.
READ ALSO: Don’t postpone kindness, you may never get another chance (1), by Aisha Musa Auyo
Back from my trip, I retrieved the parcel and handed it to another driver. Again, excuses. Frustrated, I shared my ordeal with a family member. She dismissed my worry: “You’re overreacting. This woman has probably forgotten about the incense. She doesn’t owe you anything. Why stress yourself over this?”
But deep down, I couldn’t let it go. Something urged me on. I said, “Whatever it takes, I’ll do this delivery myself, I insisted. She teased me, calling me stubborn, “Aisha kina da naci wallahi, kin damu kowa akan abinda bashi da mahimmanci”. I said naji😒. It felt as though everything, including the universe, was determined to stop me from sending that gift.
Finally, when I demanded the second driver return the parcel so I could deliver it personally, he apologised and promised to take it that week. Two days later, she sent me a message, thanking me warmly. She said, “It was worth the wait.” I apologised for the delay, and that was the last time we spoke.
This week, I received the news of her death. She had been battling a heart condition. I remembered how she once mentioned wanting to lose weight for health reasons. My heart sank. I prayed for her soul and felt deeply grateful that I had managed to give her something she wanted before her passing. Suddenly, I understood why my instincts had been so insistent.
The lesson is clear: never postpone kindness. Do it now, because tomorrow is never promised.
Aisha Musa Auyo is a doctorate researcher in educational psychology. A wife, a mother, a homemaker, a caterer, parenting, and a relationship coach. She can be reached via aishamuauyo@live.co.uk
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