Coat Of Many Colours

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” -Desmond Tutu

I am a poor boy from the countryside, in Nigeria. For so many years, I always counted myself as disadvantaged in comparison with middle-class and upper-class kids, who had everything life has to offer. Hence, this put me in a difficult position until recently.

Though my both parents never had former educations, as it were. The best they had was self-taught, and little knowledge passed on from friends or parents to them.

With the passing of time, they could now pretty read and write against all odds. Interestingly, they trained their eight children including me from primary to tertiary institution.

The dad was a trader, mechanic expert cum farming, early in life. My mum was a trader. He was the stark opposite of my mother. While he was very frugal, my mum was very generous to others in resources and cares.

Besides, he was a puritan, who held Christian values and disciplines in higher esteem. On the other hand, my mum’s philosophy evidently shows a woman who prides in respect, humility and service to all regardless of age, race, and economic status of those meets in everyday life.

In spite of this, I never saw greatness in either them or myself. So I always considered myself as someone that would not matter in history, simply because of my background. I lived quite with this pain for a long time.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was a memorable incident that occurred a day prior to his death. He called me and said, “Jacob, take this N5 notes, equivalent to $0.014, and spend it.”

I was amused by this little offered me because up until that period the octogenarian never dashed me, a 17-year old boy, a dime - in 2003.

Until recently, after over a decade, that I began to positively scrutinize the good stuff or take away of being been born poor, with no trust fund, whatsoever.

Take Away

Love

Though I was born poor, I could not still count enough the love my both parents sacrificed to send me to four walls of education; and thereafter securing a decent job in Lagos, at the expense of my both parents’ personal comforts.

Integrity and Service

Besides, I had a rare privilege of values — integrity, humility, and service, others are less fortunate to possess.
My dad was amazing among his peers as a strong leader, who did not waiver to stand up for the truth when it mattered. This is self-evident in economic accountability to church leaders/ executives where he served on the Executive Committee. He always kept account balance intact and safe.

Also, he left a thriving legacy of establishing a thrift and credit cooperative society in the community, which further inspires me about him.

Humility and Generosity

My mum is a mother par excellent who believes family is first in the scheme of things. She cooks, cleans, and keeps everyone excited about life. She is a darling to all through her unrivaled generosity.

The inspiration behind this piece is Dolly Parton song titled, “Coat of Many Colors.” It was written in 1968.

Inspired by music track titled, “Coats Of Many Colours” by Dolly Parton