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A GOLDEN GIFT WRAPPED IN RAG.

Unveil it first...




"Pat!.. could you believe that after spending 4 solid years reading and burning my candles in the department of international studies with additional one year at far North for national assignment, i am given a job of 1500 naira as a start up salary?".....  Michael lament over the phone.


"What can this stipends do for a whole graduate like me?"... He continued.


"Is this what we went to school for?".....


I could feel my friend's anger and disappointment. What can I do?


Michael and I were friends in the same school, we did the same course but Michael even in our school days had sworn never to leave school and work for what he termed 'stipend' as salary.


In fact that was what droved him to apply in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the mindset that he was not  only acquiring job security but also lucrative salary.


 He was a first class student in our department who's aunty was a clerical office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His connection in the ministry through his aunt had secured him a job.


Mich had planned on starting on a high note in the ministry but when he received his letter of appointment, he was disappointed with the salary scale that he rain curses on the government for paying so low even to the most reputable ministry that handles it foreign affairs.


He had told me he wasn't taking the job that i should pay my way to Abuja to meet his aunty to replace me if only i was so desparate for a job of such stipends as salary. 


Since i was not connected and i was so desparate to leave my home for the first time in three years after my national assignment, i told him i was ready to take the job.


Mich was happy, he immediately told the aunty he was not taking the job and within two days i was  coming to Abuja for necesarry documentation and letter of appointment to replace him.


After about three (3) months i started the job at the ministry, Micheal also got a job with a reputable oil company in Port Harcourt.


In about a year, Michael was living large while i was crawling in the federal ministry with poor salary and promotion.


Responsibities kept coming with little salary to take care of them.


At some point, i regretted not looking for a job that could have made me become a man after spending years in school.


********


15 years later, things changes as i was promoted to the rank of director in the ministry of foreign affairs.


At this time Micheal was out of work as government policies affected his company's operations added with the fall in price of grude oil.


He started struggling seriously with his children in various institutions of learning.


Michael was living a life of regret while i was flourishing in the Ministry.


In about additional 5 years,  I was appointed  as an Ambassador to Romenia to represent my country.


What was to be a regret at the beginning  became source of pride to me and brought about a fulfilling life to my family.


Few days after Micheal heard about the news of my appointment as an Ambassador, he called me to  lament about his poor state of affairs and numerous responsibilities. 


The phone call was with tears at both ends as Michael and I recounted the incident that changed our lives in different direction.


From then, i promised him i was going to take care of his  numerous responsibilities, support his family and take care of his children tuition fees.


I was living a life well designed by God wrapped in rags 


LESSONS:


Be careful of decisions you make.


Life wrap great gifts on rags.


Don't throw away your gold looking for stone.


HAPPY NEW MONTH.


✍️ Patrick Ekong

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