MOMI LEARNS| Take Chances. Make Mistakes. Grow.

Oct 4, 2017 | Life, Only Berlin

Take Chances

I got a private message from an old high school classmate.  We haven’t talked for years and the last time we’ve seen each other was on our graduation day.  Thus it hit me hard when she messaged me one Wednesday morning.

Classmate:  Hi, Berlin

Berlin:  Hello, good morning.

Classmate:  Berlin… I know it is very uncalled for… I wanted to seek a little help sana… pls don’t tell joema ha…  (she is also my husband’s friend)

Berlin:  Sure, no problem.

Classmate:  I am taking chances sana with you… I am so broke now… I just need help for now… I wanted to know if I can borrow money from you… 1500 berlin… just enough to get me and the kids going until my nxt pay Sept 8.  I promise to give it back to you by then.

That morning, we deposited P1,500 to her account.

Make mistakes

I haven’t heard from her since that day.  I messaged her two weeks ago, asking how she’s doing.  She didn’t reply.  Husband, who knew everything, asked me as well if Classmate paid already.  (I can’t go out that day so I asked husband to deposit the money.  Before that though, I told Classmate I have to tell Husband about it because I have no means to deposit money.  She gave her go signal.)

Berlin:  I messaged her but she only “seen zone” me.

Husband:  She will never pay you, Berlin.

Berlin:  I know that.  I just also took the chance.  That despite the sudden approach, there may be possibilities she will pay.  But why did you allow me to lend her the money?

Husband:  Because I am just checking your heart.  And I know there is always goodness in you.

Berlin:  Now I feel frustrated.

Husband:  You’re frustrated with yourself more than you’re frustrated with her, for sure.

Grow

Berlin:  I am frustrated with myself for lending her despite knowing there are chances she will not pay.  But I do not want to think of that way so I lend her the money anyway.  But more than that, I felt the need to help her.  We haven’t talked for years then all of a sudden, she asked for help.  We’re not even close. She must be that broke.  And now, she broke my heart.  She should have at least answered my message.  Sadly, she opted to taint her name for P1,500.

Husband:  Let us just say she is going through a rough time.  Perhaps she would want to pay you but then she can’t face you just yet because she still doesn’t have the money.

Nourish your courage

It has been more than one month since that early private message.

I must admit I still feel a little low.  I couldn’t fathom the thought of giving false promises or not saying the truth.  But then, I took the chance to believe in her the same way she took the chance on me.  I perhaps made a mistake for lending her that amount.  But that is how I will grow – not to let my emotions dictate my decision.  Though it is good to help, it is still prudent to at least evaluate the situation.  Or if I choose to help, I should never expect anything in return, even paying debts.  Because I opt to click the bait to take chance as well.

Maybe, not everyone in this world is as good as I would want to imagine.  But I do not want to lose faith in humanity.  In the first place, I do not know the other side of the story.  Perhaps those people are just having a tough time.  And for them, bravery is not answering messages and letting others think whatever they would want.

MOMI LEARNS| Take Chances. Make Mistakes. Grow.

MOMI LEARNS| Take Chances. Make Mistakes. Grow.

May this incident not push me to the extremes of losing faith in humanity.  I still hope that hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.  That, to me, is courage.

 

[tweetshareinline tweet=”Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow.” username=”SPk3(ad*e(5d4@pEwem@tnlADFb9ZZc8:1:1″] Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.

 

– Mary Tyler Moore

 

 

7 Comments

  1. Olivia x The Indy Miss

    You have a big heart, and sadly, some people will take advantage of that, whether they do it on purpose or not. I think it’s natural for you to feel this way, and I hope your heart stays open. I hope one incident won’t make you bitter. 🙂 Cheer up? 🙂

    Reply
  2. Juvy Ann

    Its heart breaking, how some would take advantage of other people’s goodness. Sad sad reality. Personally for me, whenever someone would ask help/money, I now know how to say no, and would only give what my heart allows (that means what I am willing to let go).

    Reply
  3. Michi

    I feel you, I experienced this too, yung hindi naman kayo nag-uusap bigla magmessage sayo asking for help. I also ask my husband for opinions. Sad lang, after mo matulungan, deadma na sila. Meron pa after few months, hingi ulit. Waah! I say no, once is enough.

    Reply
  4. Nerisa

    Aw… this is really sad. She chose to taint her name and whatever relationship you have in just 1500. imagine if it were really a big emergency for her… does she think she can go back and ask help from you again? 🙁

    Reply
  5. Janice

    You were so kind for lending her the money even if you’re not close to her at all. I don’t know if I would be so trusting given also our limited resources. It’s sad she hasn’t paid you yet but I’m sure God will reward you somehow for helping out someone in need.

    Reply
  6. Shalene R

    You have a good heart for sure. If I were in your shoes, I would never lend her money in the first place. I don’t even lend money to my close friends kasi ayokong magkaproblema kapag bayaran na, then masisira yung friendship. What I do sometimes is I give a little from the amount na hinihingi, then hindi ko na pinapabayaran. That way, parang tulong ko na lang. And I definitely won’t get heartbroken kasi hindi ako umaasa na babayaran ako, and hindi rin naman malaki yung binigay ko so okay lang.

    What goes around, comes around. You will be blessed because you opted to help. 🙂

    Reply
  7. nilyncartagena

    You just remind me of Dane and his friend who borrowed 5k and never paid us yet, it’s almost a year now. You are really generous, that’s why. Ako, I’ve experienced too many instances of this already, to the point that when someone PMs and I’ve never heard from him/her for a long time, I’d start to doubt whether he or she can keep the promise of paying on time. Especially those who live far away from us. Bakit nakarating sila sa’kin ng panghihiram? Does that mean wala na silang malapitan sa mga kapitbahay nila? Why? Baka dahil di sila nagbabayad ng utang nila sa mga taong malapit lang sa kanila so they have to resort to borrowing from other people who live from miles away. I know it’s not good to think this way but I just can’t help it. One of my top pet peeves are those who borrow and never keep their promise.

    Reply

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  1. MOMI LEARNS| Kindness is Everywhere | MOMI BERLIN - […] the incident might perhaps help restore my faith in humanity.  He was definitely talking about the high school classmate…

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Motherhood, as I live it, is a gift not everyone can appreciate until she learns to truly live it. More musings and realizations, fun discoveries, and mommy tips at Momi Berlin's blog.

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