NA WETIN I GAIN?

 

I was thinking this morning..... It was my colleague's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and in my usual manner, I sent him a short email greeting, saying, "Happy birthday. Kindly accept my best wishes." Everyone else I had sent that message to in the past always responded with a simple "thank you." But this my guy gave a completely different but profound response. He responded, "Thanks, Mr Wey....but wetin I gain if I no receive your best wishes?"

The response got me thinking. Truly, is there a possibility that he wouldn't accept my best wishes? I have always known that "Kindly accept my best wishes" is a polite and formal way of expressing your well wishes to someone. What I have, however, not thought about is whether anyone really considers accepting or not accepting.

I can understand someone rejecting a birthday gift but haven't imagined someone not accepting one's best wishes. As I walked into the office the next morning, still musing on the response, another colleague who had offended me the day before said, "Good morning." My carnal mind was telling me to ignore him, but then my church mind said, "Mr Wey, na wetin you gain if you no receive his good morning?"

The "Na wetin I gain" test is a trigger for deep and honest reflection. There are many things we do that we would not, if only we subject ourselves to the "Na wetin I gain" test. You are a man and said your wife offended you. Therefore, you refused to eat her food or touch her. Chai! Na wetin you gain?

You are in a position of authority. Together with your cronies, you stole the funds meant for providing basic amenities, including health care. When you are sick, you run abroad, forgetting you have family and friends here that will become victims of your failures here. Na wetin you gain?

The Warri bible version of Mark 8:36 says, "Na wetin person go gain if e kolobi the whole world and come kpai im soul?" Before you take the next big decision, ask yourself the question, "Na wetin I gain?"

But wait o... Is today not my mum's birthday? Na wetin you gain if you no join me to send her best wishes?

Happy Birthday, Maami!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey