THERE'S ALWAYS A FIRST TIME

 

I was thinking this morning... Last Wednesday evening, I called to check if a friend who travelled to Abuja on a day trip had returned. He told me that on the flight to Abuja, he sat beside a young lady, in her thirties, who on arrival in Abuja did not know how to unfasten her seat belt. She struggled for a bit and looked to him to assist. He happily did without making her feel ashamed.

When they disembarked, he saw the lady standing by the foot of the aircraft, expecting her checked-in luggage to be handed to her. My friend understood what was going on and led her to the baggage carousel in the arrival hall. It was while they were waiting she confessed that it was her first time of flying. My friend smiled and said to her 'there is always a first time.'

There's always a first time at something for everyone. I remember my first time of sailing on a luxury cruise from Miami to Bahamas. My goodness! It was a wow experience for a Warri boy. My Nigerianess was on display from embarkation to disembarkation. The good news was everyone was willing to help without making me feel stupid or out-of-sort. I enjoyed every bit of my ignorant first experience.

In a just world, first experience should be fun and enjoyable. The problem is there are many who have made first timers look stupid. If a Warri man had observed me on my first cruise ride, he would’ve called me an Ogbori or a Jew-man or JJC (Johnny Just Come). There are all sorts of derogatory names for first timers out there which have not only discouraged people from asking questions but also from exploring new things.

When a first timer asks for help, give a warm response, whether he be a stranger, new employee or new member of your church. Do not put out the proud 'na we dey run things here' attitude. Always remember that you were once a first timer. Just make every first timer feel that it's okay to be a first timer. Leviticus 19:34 ESV. “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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