If you aren’t receiving, you aren’t giving

And suddenly I realized, even when I smiled..

My “no thank you” felt like heartbreak. 

Enter any home in Ghana and you will be offered water. 

Enter any home in Ghana and you will be offered an entire meal.

(A little less of a guarantee, but extremely common.)

During my first few trips I noticed my “no thank you” were seemingly hurtful. 

I also wondered if they were coming off as rude. 

(Not my intention to hurt anyone’s feelings, or disrespect anyone’s culture.

But I just ate and I just had water.) 

Finally I realized. 

I wasn’t just saying no to water. 

And it wasn't just a meal I was turning down.

Ghanaians want nothing more than for you to feel welcomed. 

They want everything to be nice. 

They want you to feel at home. 

Even when they don’t have much. 

They want to give you something. 

They want to show you how much you are welcomed. 

And so I decided to be careful about my “nos”. 

I realized my “yeses” were life.

Life to relationship.

I took note of two ways to build relationship..

And before long I had learned to receive. 

And now I am full..

of the need to give..

a way..

to relationship. 

P.S. Would this help your relationships?

P.P.S. Always be giving. Always be receiving.