“GBENGA, a 27-year-old man and 400-Level part-time Law student, worked as a ‘Security Guard’ with one of the General Hospitals in Lagos State.
He was in his duty-post when he overheard a phone conversation amid the caller crying profusely as she lamented her plight:

“The Doctors said I should hasten up because Lekan has only one month to live. The ‘liver disease’ is almost snuffing his life... I don’t know what to do (sob). For two months now, I have been running up and down to raise the two Million Naira needed to replace his liver but we have just been able to raise a sparsely eight hundred thousand Naira! In this hard time, how do we raise the balance of over one Million Naira (sob)? Where do I ....?”

Gbenga peeped from the security-post’s window to see her slump to her knees and burst into tears while some passers-by ignored her and went their respective ways. Likewise, he just stayed glued in his spot, a few feet from her, not knowing what to do or how to take his eyes off of her. So, he watched as her nose ran with snot amid the tears that were soaking her blouse.

He did not offer to help her not because he was heartless but it was the sixth year he had been working in the hospital and so, was used to such emotional sight. He had seen lots of people wailing and rolling on the floor at the news of their loved ones’ death; he had seen victims of various degrees of injury or horrible accidents, some with broken bones or half-hanging limbs; he had seen many corpses (babies and adults) taken into or from the hospital.

At such sights, he never allowed his emotions to betray him!

As a Christian, he was often moved to help – at least, to comfort them – but how many would he help in the course of drawing the wrath of his employers should he be caught leaving his duty-post to comfort every grief-stricken person?

But as he watched her, he was strangely moved to ‘go and console her’; soon, he approached her, gently lifted her from the ground and led her back into the post where he gave her a seat and a glass of water before consoling her.

It was then he got to know a little about her and her plight:

ANUOLUWAPO was engaged to LEKAN and their marriage had been fixed within four months before Lekan was suddenly struck with a strange sickness. Some Pastors were approached to pray for him but as the ailment persisted, he was rushed to the General Hospital where it was diagnosed he had ‘Hepatocellular Carcinoma’ – a chronic liver disease!
The disease had eaten so deep into his liver that if not replaced within three months, would cost his life.
The replacement and treatment were estimated at two million Naira but so far, they had been able to raise eight hundred thousand Naira in two months!
It was in one of her visits to Lekan, who, for two months, had been on dialysis machine for detoxification treatment while awaiting the transplant, that the doctor bluntly reminded her that Lekan had ‘less than a month’ to live.

Gbenga’s heart was broken because he wished to help her but couldn’t. He was neither financially stable nor knew who to approach to come to her rescue. Tears trickled down his cheek as he recalled his own problems, which had been giving him sleepless night for quite some time now – he owed his landlord 8-month rent while his school fees hadn’t been paid for that session.

He did what he could do as a Christian – he softly held her hand and asked her to close her eyes while he prayed for her. Moments later, she left the post a bit happy but then, he had taken his decision as she sauntered to the main gate: MONEY WOULD NOT STAND IN HIS WAY TO HELP ANUOLUWAPO!

All through the night, he mulled over his decision whether or not it was worth the ‘sacrifice’ but the next day, he waited for Anu and as she passed by after greeting and thanking him for the previous day, he called her back and told her he wanted to see Lekan.

They walked into the hospital where Gbenga emotionally announced to the ‘authority’ that he was willing to GIVE (donate) his liver to Lekan – for FREE!
She was in shock though happy – this was a stranger about to give out his liver; a sacrifice that none of her and Lekan’s relatives were willing to make!

Of course, Gbenga was convinced he was doing the right thing… although he did not know Lekan or Anu, he tried to help with what he had, and it was worth more than money!

Success in life does not come from what we have, but from what we give!

So, he got tested to see if his liver would be a match for her fiancé. Amazingly, it was! So, they arranged for a medical operation to remove part of his liver and have it implanted into Lekan – the operation was a success!

Lekan is now healthy and was able to wed Anuoluwapo – thanks to Gbenga’s’ gift of life. Gbenga, with sincerity, donated his kidney to Lekan for free but his life has also improved a lot since his donation.”

Now, unlike Gbenga, many Christians believe that “giving” is all about “dishing out money” but frankly speaking, it goes beyond that!

Giving sounds so simple and rewarding but then, why is it that we so often have a hard time giving? Why are some people not moved to sacrifice or share their personal resources of finances, time and prayer to assist those in need? Why do we measure in our minds whether or not to give to others?

Many Christians will readily honour God with praise and worship but they draw a line when it comes to giving – money or other resources. They feel that speaking of giving is boring. They feel that they should give only when they are comfortable to part away with their means. God wants us to have the ‘heart to give’, no matter how big or little our resources are.

God bless you and Happy Easter.

By Kingsley UGO Okenwa (16/04/17)