Online Reporter
Rutendo Gwatidzo-Changing Perspectives
One author once said, “Strong people stand up for themselves but, stronger people stand up for others”.
I was young and now I am mature, I have realised something about life.
It has a way of humbling and uplifting people.
Things can shift when you least expect it sometimes and you can wake up on the other side of life.
Sometimes it is not about being structured or organised, things can happen beyond your control.
For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some suddenly lost everything, while others suddenly gained everything. For instance, while some lost business, others gained.
It is important to treat everyone with kindness because you never know what people become tomorrow.
Someone maybe a street kid today and tomorrow that person can be found in the palace. Look at the story of Joseph from the bible in the book of Genesis.
Joseph was taken advantage of, sadly by his brothers, while he was young and incapacitated. Little did they know that he was going to be their leader and save their lives.
Kindness Pays Well
When someone seems not to matter to you at a particular time it doesn’t mean you have to treat them bad.
Someone who doesn’t matter to you may actually matter to your children, friends or relatives.
That’s how everyone matters in one way or the other, hence it is good to treat everyone with kindness.
Be Human
The things that other people do to others are inhuman. For instance, xenophobia.
This past week as I was driving in town, I saw another driver throwing food to some street kids and part of the food fell to the ground.
Due to desperation, the street kids picked the food and ate, it broke my heart.
I wondered why the man had to throw the food. He had done well to consider sharing the food, however, the way it was done was not good. Instead of throwing I believe he could have done it better.
The food was in kaylites and I managed to see it was rice and chicken stew. Imagine picking that kind of food from the ground.
The street kids started fighting over what was left in the kaylites.
What broke my heart the most is that the guy then started to take a video while laughing. Where is humanity in so doing.
The gesture to give the street kids food was good but somewhere somehow the guy lost it, seems like he had an agenda besides giving the street kids food.
I started wondering on the reason for giving the food, whether he meant to genuinely help or if he had another agenda. What the man failed to realise was that his action exposed him, not necessarily the street kids.
Often times when we fail to display kindness, it reflects more about who we are than who the other person is. Many organisations are characterised by individuals who carry different powers.
Some have hierarchical power and some have expert power, while others hold resource power and the list of types of power is long.
We also have coercive power and charismatic power, just to mention a few. These different powers should be used for good under normal circumstances.
The challenge in most organisations is that many people are becoming self-centred and selfish such that the moment they realise that they possess a certain power, they tend to use it negatively and for their own benefit only.
Many leaders trample upon others in the workplace using the different powers they possess.
For instance, some use their expert power to put the organisational system on hold until they have been felt enough that they are powerful.
Others throw things at others and treat them in a manner that is almost similar to the street kids story, using their position power.
We also have others who mock, laugh and cause others to cry. In other words, they abuse others in different ways using the power they carry and they enjoy it.
Please be reminded if you are one of those that use their power negatively.
One day the power that you carry will fade away and those underprivileged today maybe more powerful than you tomorrow. Treat others well for the sake of even the people that you relate with.
The negative effects of what you do today may also affect your relatives in one way or the other.
Some are breadwinners in their families and others in the whole clan or the society at large.
Use your position well, be kind to others. Whatever you do to assist others, do it the human way knowing that they too have a heart and feelings.
Yes, they may comply due to desperation, however, it doesn’t mean that they do not feel the pain or see the ill treatment.
Think about tomorrow, what happens if life humbles you and uplifts the person you used to ill-treat?
Once Upon A Time
A few years ago I joined a team of evangelists from our church who would evangelise and feed street people every week in Harare. Our church would also provide them with food and clothing items at regular intervals.
One day my car broke down at the outskirts of town and it was towards end of day. The place the car broke down was supposed to be very risky due to the rate of crime that takes place there.
After the breakdown I saw a group of boys who looked like thugs coming and I started to pray for protection because I had not yet received rescue. I prepared myself for the worst as the boys got closer, but guess what, I received a good surprise of my life.
The group leader and some of the members were part of the team that we fed and preached to every week. He was so happy to see me and instructed his colleagues to assist me.
I had fallen into a ditch and before the rescue company arrived, the boys had pulled the car out. I realised then and even now, that every life is relevant in one way or the other. I also learnt that everyone is useful in one way or the other.
Do not take people for granted, you never know when you need them.
Be challenged, encouraged and inspired to treat every life with relevance.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a human Capital Executive at The HUB HR as Managing Consultant. She’s also author of two published books Born To Fight and Breaking The Silence. Contact details – 0714575805/ [email protected]/ Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official fb public page.
