My son is yet to turn four, but two traits have already become defining features of his little personality.
First, he loves to greet people. Everywhere we go, church, the grocery store, family gatherings, the mall, he insists on saying “Hi!” or “Hello!” to anyone who crosses his path. If someone doesn’t respond, he tugs at me, puzzled:
“Daddy, I greeted him. He didn’t answer me.”
I smile and tell him, “Maybe he didn’t hear you, son.” Sometimes, I add, “Still, you did well to greet.”
His other trait touches me even more deeply, his instinct to help.
The Door at the Bank
Not long ago, we were at the bank for a quick transaction. While I spoke to the cashier, I noticed he had quietly left my side. My eyes followed him, and there he was, standing beside the security guard who helps customers push the heavy glass door. My son had joined him, helping strangers in and out with tiny hands and boundless joy.
A lady noticed. She smiled, walked back to me, and asked,
“Sir, can I give him something?”
I nodded. She handed him a dollar.
That became his first earning from humanitarian service.
I stood beside him after that, watching him beam as he helped more people through the door. It wasn’t about the money. It was the joy of usefulness, the pure satisfaction of service.
At the Playground
Another day at the playground, he saw some empty bottles lying around. He came running to me, frowning in concern:
“Daddy, this shouldn’t be on the floor.”
That day, I was distracted, my mind elsewhere. But later, it struck me, he wasn’t just pointing out dirt; he was noticing disorder and feeling responsibility. His instinct was not to complain but to act. That realization humbled me.
The Heritage of Service
These moments remind me of my own journey. Looking back, everything meaningful in my life, every joy, opportunity, and reward has come through service.
From my earliest years, I have found purpose not in ambition, but in contribution. As a student, it was through the students’ union that I discovered leadership and community. In church, volunteering opened doors I never imagined.
It was service that connected me to the editor of The Independent newspaper, which later led to my first work with UNICEF. I didn’t own a laptop then; I wrote my articles in a cybercafé, paying by the hour, driven only by conviction and passion.
Even the major turn in my personal life, meeting my wife, was through volunteering. Everything I have become, and everything I value, has roots in service.
That is why my son’s heart for helping means so much to me.
Why Service Still Matters
In today’s world, especially here in the West, volunteering is not just a pastime; it’s part of the formation of character. In schools, on college applications, and in communities, a record of service speaks volumes about who a person is.
But beyond resumes and recognition, volunteering shapes empathy, responsibility, and vision. It teaches a child to see beyond self.
I once wrote a blog for free, just to share insight. Years later, that blog was cited by journalists across continents and became a major reference in an international application. I’ve facilitated programs without pay that opened doors to national partnerships and transformed my career.
Every major turning point in my life has had one seed in common: selfless service.
Passing It On
So when I see my son greet strangers, pick up bottles, or hold a door for someone, I see a spark of the same calling that has shaped my life. I pray to fan that spark into a lifelong fire of kindness.
Love is active. Kindness is never dormant. Service is the language of purpose.
If we teach our children anything in this age of self-promotion and entitlement, let it be this:
The world does not revolve around us; it is waiting for us to serve.
Final Reflection
My path has always led through service, to meaning, to people, to impact.
And now, watching my son, I know: the next generation can still learn the joy of giving.
That is my #50PlusDad reflection this week.
To serve is to live.
And to raise a child who serves is to give the world hope again.
Do have an INSPIRED week ahead with the family.
