Jean Claude NIYOMUGABO Profile picture
Jan 7 19 tweets 4 min read Read on X
When my uncle was about 45, his wife passed away, and everyone kept telling him to remarry.

But he wasn’t interested. “I don’t need a wife,” he said. “I’ve got a son, and with him, I’m set for life.”

Little did he know, life had a surprise in store for him, one he didn’t see coming…
As my cousin grew up and took over the family business, my uncle had more time on his hands.

He started visiting his friends’ offices, popping in like a man with nowhere to be.

He’d chat for hours, pretending to be busy, but enjoying the break from his responsibilities….
When my cousin got married, my uncle beamed with pride.

He handed over the entire house to his daughter-in-law like it was no big deal.

With his son married, he felt secure. “Everything’s good now,” he’d say. Life was simple and smooth—or so he thought…
A year after the wedding, one afternoon during lunch, things took a turn.

My cousin had come home from work, washed up, and was about to sit down for his meal when he overheard his dad ask for beans.

His daughter-in-law said, “Sorry, no beans today.” My uncle didn’t complain and just finished his food…
Later, when my cousin sat down to eat, what did he find? A bowl of beans right there on his plate. “Hmm,” he thought, “that’s strange.” He didn’t react, but in his mind, he began wondering what was going on.

What was his dad up to? And why the beans?…
A few days later, my cousin walked up to my uncle with a serious look. “Papa, you have to go to court today. You’re getting married.” My uncle nearly dropped his drink. “What do you mean, married?

I don’t need a wife. I’ve given you all the love you need. Why would I remarry?”….
“Well, Papa,” my cousin replied with a smile, “I’m not bringing a new wife for you or a mother for me. I’m just arranging beans for you.” My uncle was completely confused.

My cousin wasn’t done yet. “From now on, I’ll be living with your daughter-in-law in a rented house and working in your office.”..
You’ll see,” my cousin continued, “your daughter-in-law will appreciate beans more now.” My uncle’s eyes widened, but he wasn’t about to back down.

“You need to stop being the ATM for everyone,” my cousin added. “You’re more than just a provider.”….
This strange conversation was the moment my uncle realized maybe he had been taking the small things for granted.

Like beans. It’s funny how something as simple as a meal could stir up deeper reflections on life, love, and family…
It was a reminder to all of us that we sometimes forget to appreciate the little things. The simple acts of love, care, and attention can mean more than we realize.

Just because we do something for someone doesn’t mean it’s always noticed….
How often do we get caught up in providing for others without considering what they really need?

Do we, like my uncle, think our efforts are enough, or do we sometimes miss the small things that truly matter?

Do we recognize when others feel left out or unnoticed?
Sorry, dear reader, for cutting the story short earlier. It was raining heavily, and I had to rush to harvest my produce before the rain ruined it 😂
But now that I’m back, let me tell you how things unfolded after that strange conversation between my uncle and cousin.
About a year later, my uncle surprised us all by remarrying. His new wife was a kind, beautiful woman of his age who brought a spark back into his life.

She had a calm demeanor, but she also had a way of making people reflect on their actions without saying much. Let me tell you—her presence changed the family dynamics.
At first, my cousin's wife wasn’t thrilled about the idea of having a stepmother-in-law.

But over time, she noticed something remarkable. My uncle’s new wife treated him with care and respect, paying attention to the little things he liked—whether it was his tea brewed just right or making sure there were beans at every meal.
One evening, during a family gathering, my uncle’s wife quietly spoke to my cousin’s wife. “I see you love your husband,” she began gently. “But a home flourishes when everyone feels valued, including those who paved the way for us.”

The words were simple, but they struck a chord with my cousin’s wife.
Later that week, my cousin’s wife did something unexpected. She sat down with my uncle and apologized. “Papa,” she said with a trembling voice, “I was wrong to overlook your needs. I thought providing for you was enough, but I see now it’s the small gestures that matter most.”
My uncle, being the forgiving man he was, simply smiled and said, “It’s all right, my daughter. Love is a journey of learning.”

The tension that had quietly lingered in the family seemed to melt away that day, and there was a new sense of understanding between them.
Life in the household became more harmonious. My uncle, with his second wife by his side, was happier than ever.
The family began to come together, not just over shared meals but over shared respect and care for one another.
It’s funny how life teaches us lessons in the most unexpected ways. For my cousin’s wife, it was through a bowl of beans. For my uncle, it was through remarriage.

And for the rest of us, it was watching how a family can rebuild stronger when there’s love and understanding.

End!

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Jean Claude NIYOMUGABO

Jean Claude NIYOMUGABO Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @jcniyomugabo

Jan 4
In 2007, I visited my old friend who has been living in the rural area ever since his parents passed away.

The strange part? He told me to stay away from the old mango tree behind his house at night.

As kids, we used to play under that tree, but now he said, “It’s not safe anymore.”

I laughed it off. Big mistake….
That evening, we sat by the fire talking about childhood memories.

My friend seemed tense, but I didn’t take it seriously.

He kept looking at the mango tree, like he was expecting something to happen.

When I asked him why he was so worried, he just shook his head and said, “You’ll see….
Later that night, I decided to check out the tree myself.

It was pitch dark, and the only light I had was from my flashlight.

As I got closer, I felt the air get colder.

I didn’t hear any animals or insects. It was so quiet, it made me feel uneasy…
Read 13 tweets
Jan 2
A few minutes ago, I finished reading about Africa's expanding infrastructure.

It’s hard to imagine that in just a few decades, roads, railways, ports, and airports will link every corner of the continent.

With over 1,200 km of the Algeria East-West Highway and 4,500 km connecting Lagos to Mombasa, Africa is on the move…..Image
The transformation is visible, and the changes are undeniable.

Just look at the Abuja-Kaduna railway in Nigeria, which is already improving access and mobility.

This isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about creating opportunities, creating jobs, and moving Africa into the future.
You might think Europe or Asia is leading the way in infrastructure, but that’s changing.

Africa is catching up, with countries investing in projects that connect nations like never before.

The goal is clear: to bring people and goods together, to grow economies, and build strong relationships across borders.
Read 13 tweets
Jan 1
Yesterday marked the last time I bought vegetables from the woman who sells them near my house.

For months, I’d been paying a premium price, around a third of my monthly income, hoping it would help her grow her small business.

She always assured me that her produce was fresh and chemical-free…
I convinced myself that paying more than the market price was a good decision, as I wanted to support a local seller and help her farm expand.

Her vegetables were always fresh, and I thought that my contribution would make a difference.

I regularly bought from her, feeling good about it…
One day, I sent her money for an order, and she promised that everything would be delivered within a week.

A week later, her daughter, about 15 years old, showed up at my door with the basket of vegetables.

I greeted her and took the goods, thinking everything was as usual…
Read 14 tweets
Dec 31, 2024
Yesterday, I read a story about Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and how he was overthrown.

When it happened, people in the streets of Accra were celebrating.

But Nkrumah, watching from the side, didn’t understand.

He asked, “Why are they so happy? Shouldn’t they be sad?”
His close friend, who had traveled with him on many journeys, gave him an answer that shocked him.

“Mr. President, your people were expecting milk, but you were busy building factories.

Emmanuel Kotoka will provide them milk.” Nkrumah was surprised and replied, “Is that all they wanted?”…
Nkrumah, deeply troubled, said, “I thought we were building a future together.

If I knew they wanted milk, I would have planted milk taps in their homes.”

His friend looked at him, realizing that Nkrumah had misunderstood what the people needed the most…
Read 12 tweets
Dec 29, 2024
The owner of the farm I rented is always showing up unannounced whenever we are harvesting.

He takes whatever he wants like it’s his right.

Last week, he harvested over 50kg of my peppers, French beans, and tomatoes.

For Christmas, he said. No permission. No payment.
If the irrigation pipe breaks, I fix it. If weeds invade, I’m the one clearing them.

If the fence falls, guess who puts it back up? Me.

And yet, he has five hectares of his own land right there, untouched!

Honestly, it feels like I rented the farm and a surprise guest.
His farm, I must admit, is one of the most amazing farms I’ve ever seen.

It’s near a beautiful stream, surrounded by a small forest, with the most fertile soil you could ask for.

But no matter how stunning his farm is, he always seems more interested in my crops than his own.

He’s always there when we’re harvesting, as if he’s monitoring his farm
Read 14 tweets
Dec 27, 2024
Let me tell you about the time I lost my job after just 4 months in 2018.

I had just been hired by a local NGO, and my boss, a charming lady named Sarah, was from USA.

Now, Sarah was not just a boss; she was a "support system," helping me pay bills and even sending money home to my parents….
It didn’t take long for Sarah to take a liking to me.

She’d often tell the team, "This man is a go-getter, he’s got that drive we need!"

She even started calling me "her best investment" and sometimes joked that I was "the future of the organization."

I felt like I was winning at life….
One day, Sarah invited me to dinner after work.

She said, "You know young man, you’ve really impressed me—keep it up!"

I said, "It’s all thanks to my parents and Jesus!"

I could see her smile, and it made me feel like I was finally going places…
Read 16 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(