There are moments in life that make you pause—and remember.
Recently, I was asked to help find a reliable manager for a gas station. It was a simple task on the surface: interview candidates, assess their competence, and refer the best fit. But what started as a straightforward recruitment process turned into one of the most emotional, full-circle experiences of my life.
We had scheduled a series of interviews, and by the time I reached the last of the eight candidates, I noticed someone else waiting quietly outside. He hadn’t been on the original list. Curious, I called him in and asked why he had come late.
He apologized sincerely. The roads were tough, he said, and he had to trek most of the way because he didn’t have enough money for transport. He looked tired but determined—clearly someone who wanted a shot.
I asked him what job he currently did.
“Block molding,” he said simply.
I then requested his CV, and as I skimmed through it, something clicked. His surname stood out, a familiar name from my childhood. Without thinking, I scribbled on his CV, “Omo Baba oni bread” (son of the bread seller) and handed it back to him.
The look on his face was priceless—shock, realization, and maybe even a bit of emotion. He recognized me, and I certainly remembered him.
Years ago, when I was just a child, we lived in the same compound. His father ran a small bakery. Every evening after baking, his dad would bring out the overbaked or slightly misshapen loaves and hand them out to the families in the compound—us included.
To him, it may have seemed like a simple act of generosity. But to us? Those bread pieces were our dinner. They filled our stomachs, gave us joy, and offered comfort when there wasn’t much else to hold on to. His father’s kindness was unknowingly sustaining lives—including mine.
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Back then, he had no idea what that gesture meant. Today, I finally understood what people mean when they say, “What goes around comes around.”
Even though I had another candidate in mind for the job—someone who fit the brief perfectly—this young man’s story, his perseverance, and his father’s long-forgotten kindness tipped the scales. I knew I had the chance to pay it forward. And I took it.
Because sometimes, competence matters. But humanity matters more.
So here’s what I’ve learned: Every kind act is a seed. It may take years, even decades, but one day, it just might bloom when you—or your children—need it most. That’s the beauty of kindness. It echoes across time.
Let’s choose to live every day with compassion. You never know whose tomorrow you’re saving today.
