"Give me my shoe, I said bring my shoe back, bring my shoe back!" Mr. Jide voice echoed.
Let me tell you what led to that. The office had been peaceful until Mr. Jide arrived that morning. The air in the office became tensed and thick, you could slice it with a knife. The chit-chat died down immediately he stepped into the lobby. Many of his employees chorused a greeting "Good morning Sir", "Happy New week sir", "Welcome sir". He ignored them all. The voice that was loudest was that of Olajide his unfortunate namesake.
"Good morning Sir, how is the family? Welcome, let me help you carry your bag". - Olajide proposed.
Olajide made to collect his bag as usual, but he was waved off.
Mr. Jide ruled the office with arms of steel. No one saw him smile and his favorite pastime was chewing the head off of one of his employees. The candidate that mostly fell into his trap was Olajide. What enraged him the most was no matter what he said or how he queried him, Olajide was always smiling and saying sorry sir gleefully.
That particular morning, Mr. Jide was especially sour faced, he arrived already upset. He headed straight to his office, he noticed someone had re-arranged his table, set the books in place, clipped his calenders, worked his coffee maker and made sandwiches. He loved what the person did but he just wanted to shout at someone and who best to shout at than Olajide. He picked up the intercom and summoned him to the office.
Olajide wondered what he had done again, irrespective of what it was, he started smiling again. He arrived at the office of Mr. Jide.
"You called me sir" - he said smiling.
"What's the meaning of this nonsense, who scattered my office?" - Mr. Jide Thundered.
"Emmm... Your office is arrange.."
"shut up, do you mean I don't know when something is arranged?"
"That's not what I meant, so.. Sorry sir." he said smiling.
"Why are you smiling, why are you smiling?" Mr. Jide removed his left shoe and threw it at Olajide who dodged it. This enraged him more, he removed his right shoe and threw it at Olajide who caught it and picked the other foot and ran away with it.
"Give me my shoe, I said bring my shoe back, bring my shoe back!" the words trailed after him. This young man was getting on his nerve.
Something caught his attention from the corner of his eyes, it was Olajide crossing the road with his shoe, he watched from his window. Olajide approached a cobbler and after a brief conversation he proceeded to polish the shoe to a brighter glory.
After about 10 minutes, Olajide returned to the office to the shock of everyone. The other employees followed him to see the outcome of the epic encounter. He got to the door, and he was invited. Olajide wore his shoe for him and for the very first time in the office, there was silence. No thunder, no lightening. No roar.
The silence was deafening.
"Thank you Olajide" - Mr. Jide said to the surprise of everyone. The act of genuine love and kindness melted his heart immediately irrespective of his own behavior. He remained seated for a long time and thought about his actions and resolved to be better, to quit being bitter.
Final Take home:
Nobody has eaten the meat and drank the water of coconut and remained the same. This should be the case when they encounter you, they shouldn't go back the same. Let your love diffuse anger, let it erase sadness, let your love conquer bitterness. On your journey through life, you are bound to meet difficult people, envelope them with love and make their life sweet.
Let loving kindness, the coconut side of love win
Kindness pays, I must say. Great post here