Poverty: A Blessing Or A Curse?

in #life7 years ago


I believe poverty is the richest experience that can come to a boy...... Napoleon Hill 

Until you have lived in poverty, you'll never know what it feels like to be poor. 

Poverty makes you feel valueless or less important before others. As a child, when you see other kids carrying their plates of ice-cream, you'll wish you had rich parents. 

When you have to work like a slave for other people, yet your wages can't sustain the basic necessities of life, you'll understand why some people prefer death to life.

When you see an investment opportunity that will help you get out of poverty, but you don't have a dime to invest, you'll know how much it hurts to be poor.

When someone intentionally humiliates you because he feels you are too poor to fight him back, then you may agree that it is a curse to be poor.


When you see quotes like this, some poor people will start thinking they are cursed. I'll like to look at it from a different perspective. 

Being poor is not a curse, but allowing yourself to remain in poverty is a curse.

Despite all the stings of poverty, I'm glad to tell you that poverty blessed my life in some amazing ways.

Last year when we had our annual winners youth conference, one of the speakers was our Bishop's son. He was teaching youth on how to overcome poverty and  live a successful life. I heard him talk about so many things, but I never appreciated his teachings and I have my reasons. 

I came to church that day feeling depressed because I was in need of so many necessities of life but there was no money to take care of them. They preached to us that a way to come out of poverty was to give a Shiloh sacrifice. Out of my state of being poor, I still had to give a sacrifice and the son of the man who is in-charge of all the sacrifices is teaching me on how to come out of poverty. He has never tasted poverty. All he knows about poverty is what he was told or what he read. This young man's father is the richest African pastor, I'm talking about Bishop David Oyedepo. I really don't think such people earned enough right to teach on such matters.

But when someone like Napoleon Hill talks about poverty, I listen to him. Though he wasn't born poor, at some point of his life, they became poor. That's a case similar to mine. I wasn't born poor. We lived in the Northern part of Nigeria until the Sharia crises that had so many people killed and properties damaged. We were lucky, nobody in my family was killed but life wasn't the same again. 

We started life afresh. Looking for new business to start, new school for us kids, the new business crashed, life became miserable for our family. At a very young age I started working to support myself and our family. I didn't have the opportunity to attend university(college) like my friends because there was no money for that.

All the hardships I had to pass through in life, made me who I am today. Poverty made me do things I never thought I could do. It brought out the genius in me. It humbled me and made me very passionate towards the plight of others. 

Poverty prevented me from following the conventional way of schooling. Perhaps, I might have graduated, get a paid job, then live all my life working for the government without discovering who I am or realize the potentials embedded in me. 

Poverty helped me develop my mind. I am educated because I've passed through the life's school of experience. 

My passion to help the poor and needy is directly related to the fact that I've been there once and I know what it feels like. 

I go to hospitals and help people I don't know pay hospital bills, because I almost died of a treatable disease only because I didn't have the money for treatment. I'm alive today because a pastor from Assemblies of God church helped.

Do I believe poverty is a blessing? Yes.

Do I want my kids to pass through poverty? No. 

Is this contradictory? Not at all.  

I'm glad that I went through all the stings of poverty and came out of it stronger.  

I found myself in poverty not by choice, so I will not wish my kids that awful experience. The essence of this post is to encourage everyone one going through one form of hardship or the other. 

We should never allow any prevailing circumstances to overwhelm us. Wherever we find ourselves, it's important to pick the lesson there and use it for our own good. 

If only we can persevere, there is always a treasure to discover in most of life's horrible situations.

Poverty is not just a blessing to me, it's a an instrument in the hands of the Porter used to give my life a touch of humility, passion, strength and uncommon wisdom.

This post cannot end without acknowledging the people who encouraged me here the most. A special regards to all those who have consistently got my back here. 

Images are from imgur.com

Thanks for Reading 


@elyaque made this beautiful badge for me 

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I have found that poverty can also make people hard working and innovative. Luxury and vanity can hurt ones spiritual progress as well.

i agree with you but even small children faces so much difficulties ... it hurts to look at their poverty driven faces... :/

You are making a good point here

Yes you said it all. Been porn poor is one thing remaining poor is an option. It is really painful seeing that you have an opportunity to make your life never but because you are poor, you were unable to take the mantle.
I must confess, to leave the stage of poverty takes alot, from courage, determination, focus and above all, Gods Grace. God will see us through.

Absolutely true. It takes a lot to come out of poverty. Thanks for reading.

Most times the difference between the rich and the poor is information. Most are doing posts with "great" contents on facebook while we have an awesome steemit. They are doing that because they may not know there's steemit. Awesome article, been there and back 😁✌️

You're right. A single piece of information can change someone's life forever. Thanks for reading.

I'm glad you agree.

I know what you mean.People who have never gone through something like that will never ever understand people who have.Lack of money does make you a stronger person,it pushes you to study and work harder not only for yourself but for your family.It actually makes you a good and descent human being who values every little thing other people take for granted.Thank you for your post,it's very meaningful and sincere.

Thanks for reading @damira. Most of these arrogant and inhumane fellows are people who never tasted the other side of life.

You are welcome;)True

I really empathize with you about the the northern crisis. War is never a good experience. It doesnt end well. However, situation has shaped us all in some ways. That situation shaped you and squeeze some hidden talents in you. Others might have experience situations that has shapened them in some way. I have mine.

When you see an investment opportunity that will help you get out of poverty, but you don't have a dime to invest, you'll know how much it hurts to be poor.

The world is built in this way, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Funny enough, the bible says from the hand of the one that has little, the little he has shall be taken and given to the rich. Owo eni ti o ni lati maa gba fun e ni to ni(Yoruba version, lol). However, not giving up is a tool to achieving excellence.

We should never allow any prevailing circumstances to overwhelm us. Wherever we find ourselves, it's important to pick the lesson there and use it for our own good.

@dang007 once mentioned in his comment that he came to US as a refugee, but now he is a whale. I believe he didnt give up on himself. Someday our desire wont only come true but will be visible in shaping the future course.

Lol! @turpsy that makes me have some doubts about the originality of the Bible contents. I'll keep pushing until the world hears my story and they'll use it as a topic to motivate others.

Thanks for reading bro.

You welcome @ogoowinner. Steem on, the world is already listening.

Poverty can be traumatizing and a very crazy feeling

But and the good side it makes you understand life more

It makes you value time money people life and love

I never wish anyone be poor but the lessons learned from poverty I wish all

Exactly my point. Poverty comes with wealth of experience. Thanks for reading.

Yeah and tanks for giving us a good read

And also helping the Nigerian community we truly appreciate

POVERTY

I love this write up a lot, seriously, I mean it!!!

Below are my contributions

If care is not taken, poverty kills ideas.

Seriously speaking what I'm doing now on steemit is something I have wanted to do all my life, but there were no means of getting a very good device which could have made blogging easy for me.

There are some particular people with some unique business ideas, but where would they start from? Poverty should be blamed here.

But sincerely speaking;

If you give your safe up to poverty it would be a cause on your part, but if you could work harder without thinking negatively, then you are good to go; by the time you check back you are out of poverty.

Your message is very inspirational

KUDOS 👍

Lol! I became interested in blogging since 2008. I created my first blog in 2009. I couldn't continue with that goal because of financial issues. Who knows? I might have been a popular blogger now.

I still didn't give up. I'm very glad to find a platform like this.

I'm very glad too, can you just try and tell me something? who no like better thing? This platform has been helping me greatly, apart from blogging, I like Beautiful Creatures, considering your display picture, you are a beautiful lady too..... 😂 one of those thing o like

Am so happy for this post coming from you Adam, povery should motivate us to the greatest height. Most of the rich people we hear about today were all challenged by poverty , therefore poverty should not be referred to as curse. Gracias my friend.

Nwanem o! It isn't easy coming out of poverty, but it is possible.

Thanks for your comment here @gloglo.

Your perspective is inspirational. Thank you for sharing your story.

Thanks for reading, your comment and the Upvote. I do appreciate.

poverty in no way can be blessing... :( god bless those who suffer from it

I believe poverty is man-made, created by the most wealthy to usurp power over the 99%...
🤔🤔🤔

I agree.

@amvanken, even if poverty is man made, then decision of the poor should be rigid to reject it