THE BROKEN PROMISES

Promise as it is popular proclaimed is a DEBT – I’ve always wondered what similarity is there between a Promise and a Debt.

As a student of Finance, my knowledge of what a Debt means is when you have an obligation or commitment hanging on your neck. Sorry I had to be academic a bit.

The effect of Debt in the life of a debtor is usually a devastating one. It could steal his happiness; everything will seem out of focus for him, his smile is indicative of how sorrowful he is, it could also lead some folks to commit suicide because they just can’t afford being branded a DEBTOR.

So, how can a thing as scary as Debt be likened to an act you and I take for granted on a daily basis (PROMISE)

Let’s delve deeply into the mystery behind making promises and see if it’s truly a DEBT as it is popularly conceived.

Promise is said to be when you have assured someone of a thing at a specified date. (My own definition).

The one whom you have promised then places all his hopes and aspirations into that thing he has been promised. And he is constantly grazing in the garden of your assuring words.

He sometimes fantasizes on how he will make use of that thing even though he is yet to receive it, and sometimes, he will also promise another person of something, because of the level of assurance he has in your words already.

Imagine you making a promise to a broke father of a Job or a certain sum of money. The father gets home and he also promised his children of paying their school fees in the coming weeks.

The kids were extremely over joyous – they jumped up in enthusiasm and they celebrated because Daddy has promised to pay their school fees.

And when the time came for you to keep to your promise, you stated making excuses, you switched off your mobile device, you ordered your secretary to tell any visitor you are not on seat, and sometimes, you even become aggressive toward the one you promised.

All the hopes of the one you promised started wearing thin – his exam fee is not a sure thing anymore. The broke father becomes timid and perplexed – he doesn’t know how he will face his kids. All their enthusiasm will soon become the complete opposite.

Their aspirations now seem to be a thing of Mission impossible. They lost their happiness because of your lack of integrity and you don’t seem to be bothered about it because Promise to you is not a big deal. Indeed, you are a DEBTOR.

You are not just a debtor to the one you have promised, you are equally a debtor to others promised by the one you promised. I hope I didn’t just create havoc with my usage of words.

This issue of making promises is not a thing of joke. It’s so serious that even the Lord of the entire universe makes mention of it in the divine estimation;

“THE SUCCESSFUL ONES ARE THOSE WHO KEEP TO THEIR PROMISES”.

WOW! If those who keep to their promises are tagged as being successful by Allah, what then would be the tag of those who fail to keep up with their promises? #thoughtful right#

Who wouldn’t desire to be tagged as a successful person by his Creator? Obviously none….

Hey there! Listen up…If you find yourself under the canopy of those who make empty promises and you are not bothered about it, then you should know that you are drowning in the pit of doom.

When someone comes to you for some kind of assistance, and deep down in you, you know you can’t help such person, it is best you don’t make promises because that would mean you are adding to his predicament.

Failure to fulfill such promise makes that person feel oppressed, and in reality, you have oppressed him. If such person curses you, trust me – it would only take the divine grace for you to be rescued from the grip of the curse.

It’s important for you to know that if you must make promises, perhaps out of anxiety or because you also have some hope somewhere, you should always accompany such promise with the statement (in sha Allah) meaning by the will of God. Only then would you save yourself from being tagged as an unsuccessful person in God’s sight.

And also if you so much desire to grant someone a thing, it is best you make it a surprise for such person instead of making promises. Surprises sometimes are better than promises as claimed by a friend and in reality, surprises are much more appreciated.

And finally, it is highly recommended that in order to rescue yourself from the burden of promises, you should avoid making promises completely especially in cases where you know you can’t make up to it.

SANNI WAHAB OLANREWAJU