The kind of wealth we don’t talk about enough

 

Hi aunties and uncles…

I know, I know… we’ve been quiet.
We haven’t spoken this year, so… happy new year, I guess? 😅

Let’s ease into it.

To start the year, Let’s talk about generosity.

This thought has been sitting on my heart for a while, and honestly, it was sparked by three men in my life who mean the world to me. Men I love deeply. Men whose hearts are bigger than they even realise.

Growing up, I’ve always known my father to be a giver.
Not just in words but in action.

My dad? That man would take off the shirt on his back to clothe someone else and somehow still walk away like he hasn’t done anything special. If you’ve ever met him or even just been around him, you know the kind of man he is.

But something hit me hard some time back.

My father is deeply rooted in his faith. His relationship with God is non-negotiable. No matter how tired he is, he shows up. As a preacher, he would often travel to rural areas to minister. To me, that was normal routine because I’ve seen him do that since I was a child.

But there was one place in particular that always looked different.

Before going there, he would go shopping for mealie meal, sugar, salt, cooking oil, soap etc. And at this point, he was already retired. It’s not like he had excess money, but he would still buy what he could, then repackage it, divide it, stretch it, just to make sure it reached as many people as possible.

One day, while on a church trip to a rural area, I met someone who seemed to know me, but I didn’t know them.

They introduced themselves and mentioned my father. Then they started  sharing with me how they knew him. How he would come through for them, bringing food, and sometimes even clothes.

As I stood there listening, everything started to make sense.
All those times I had seen him buying supplies before certain trips…this is where they were going.

I remember feeling so proud, but not surprised. That’s just the kind of man my father is.

When I got back home that evening, I asked him about it.
He just laughed and said, “It’s nothing.”

And that’s the thing.
To him, it really is nothing.

My father is not the richest man on earth, but in generosity? He is wealthy.

As I grew older, he eventually shared the heart behind it with me, it’s something he genuinely loves doing and has continued, to this day.

 *******

A year after I finished college, I moved in with my elder brother, another man I’ve watched build his life from the ground up.

At the time as a fresh graduate, I was volunteering somewhere, so naturally, he took care of all my needs and his son’s , and I mean everything.

Our mornings were always special to me, we’d start with devotions and prayed together as a family on our way out, then drop my nephew off at school before my brother dropped me off and continued on with the rest of the day.

One evening, we sat down for what we used to call our “family talks.” He asked us how we were spending the lunch money he gave us weekly.

Then he said something that stayed with me,

“You have everything you need at home. One day, just walk around town and see how many people really need that money you’re holding on to. Be kind. Be a giver. That could mean everything to someone and God will bless you differently when you give from your heart.”

At first, it sounded simple.

But at some point, I decided to try it.

I bought my lunch one day, then gave it to someone who needed it more. That simple act turned into something deeper than I expected, that person I shared lunch with now considers me family, and in her own way, she’s shown me kindness too. Not because she has to, but because that one moment created a genuine bond that we share till today.
I did it again the next day.
Then again.

And before I knew it, it became something I’d do intentionally, even if not every day, at least whenever I could.

What surprised me wasn’t just the act, it was the connections. The “thank yous.” The way something so small could shift someone’s entire day.

That lesson stayed.

***********

And then there’s my partner.

Another generous soul.

He shows up for people, sometimes more than he shows up for himself. If someone calls, he answers. If someone needs help, he moves. He’ll pause his own plans just to make sure someone else is okay.

And the truth? Not everyone shows up for him the same way.

But he doesn’t complain. He doesn’t keep score.

Watching him has taught me something important, that generosity is not always about balance. Sometimes, it’s about the heart.

But it has also made me think deeper…

Because while giving is beautiful, it can also be draining if you’re not careful. Being there for everyone shouldn’t mean losing yourself.

So what’s the takeaway from this?

That generosity looks different in every season.

For some, it’s giving out of abundance.
For others, it’s giving out of very little.
For some, it’s teaching others how to give.
And for others, it’s simply just showing up over and over again.

But the biggest lesson?

Generosity should not always be about how much you have, but about how willing you are to share what you have, it could be about your time, your heart, your presence.

At the same time, I’m learning that generosity also needs wisdom.
You can pour into others and still take care of yourself.
You can give and still have boundaries.
You can be kind without being emptied.

So as we continue with the “new aunties and uncles” series (quite consistently this time 😅), even though we’re already in April and I’m only just getting back to writing this year 😅..maybe this is something we can all think about.

Not just how much we give
But how we give.
And who we are becoming in the process.

Because the world needs generous people.
But it also needs whole ones.

Till next time, aunties and uncles.

With love,

Your resident new aunty.