Retirement journey (7): the legacy of the retiree
By John S. QUAISIE
In our need to arrange adequately for a profitable retirement expertise, we have a tendency to put numerous emphasis on cash and wealth as indispensable components. However, components that account for profitable and fulfilling retirement life transcend the wealthy and enviable pension bundle.
In their dedication to make the perfect use of their retirement life, some individuals nonetheless encounter conditions and situations which are inclined to erode their happiness and pleasure.
No Pension Funds
Many aged people dwelling in rural and concrete communities in Africa, don’t have entry to pension funds. Some self-employed individuals, who will not be linked to any pension scheme, are inclined to work past the conventional retirement age, attempting to make sufficient cash to deal with their household, till they go away the planet earth.
Facing the surprising
In actuality, not many aged individuals (who haven’t any pension funds) are in a position to work actively far into retirement life. For instance, well being challenges may place a limitation on the power of the retiree to work for a very long time, to earn the fitting cash to assist themselves and their households.
It is predicted that grownup youngsters would deal with their dad and mom when the latter attain the age of retirement. Indeed, the Bible has an vital message for kids,
“Honour your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land The Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NIV).
While some youngsters are in a position to reciprocate the love, care and sacrifice of their dad and mom, others, sadly, neglect their aged moms and dads at a time the latter want their assist most.
The important points
In all these conditions, there are two important points which the retiree – with or with out pension cash – wants to handle earlier than they go away the planet earth:
- What legacy is the retiree going to go away for his or her household, their group, nation and the world at massive?
- Where will the retiree spend eternity after demise?
In an try to accumulate riches for themselves in any respect value, some older individuals bask in critical malpractices akin to misappropriation of funds, which are inclined to have an effect on them negatively and create a foul picture for themselves and their households.
It is unlucky that society usually tends to admire individuals who have constructed mansions, purchased a fleet of autos and amassed nice wealth, regardless of how they made their cash.
‘Galamsey’
In latest occasions, the print and digital media in some African international locations have been publishing tales of great degradation of the surroundings. In some international locations like Ghana, indiscriminate and unlawful mining actions, regionally often known as ‘galamsey’, have brought on numerous harm to water our bodies and farm lands.
Water sources which, previously, served many rural communities with potable water, have now been critically polluted, because of irresponsible gold mining actions.
It is unlucky that some people, together with some retirees, assist the “galamsey”, due to the wealth they make out of the unlawful enterprise. They consider their very own egocentric curiosity and overlook in regards to the critical harm they trigger to the well being and wellbeing of different residents.
Retirees who interact in or assist such unlawful and damaging actions are going to go away future generations with an enormous drawback. Such retirees turn into a legal responsibility as an alternative of an asset to the society.
On the opposite hand, some less-privileged people work arduous and keep a great file of accountability and integrity all through their lives. While a few of their work colleagues amass wealth by means of dishonest means, they select to stay easy, sincere lives, with the goal of serving God and setting a great instance for his or her youngsters and the society basically.
Value-added legacy
In at present’s world, we nonetheless profit from the sacrifices and good works of people that have handed on, lengthy earlier than our time.
Recently, whereas my spouse and I have been ready within the departure corridor on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for our return flight to Ghana, I made a decision to purchase some snack on the duty-free store. After selecting the objects, I provided fee, however I needed to anticipate a while, as a result of the gross sales girl was struggling to discover a change for me.
At this time, there was one other passenger, a South African, who was additionally shopping for some objects from the identical store. While ready, I engaged him in a brief dialog. When he obtained to know that I’m from Ghana, he exclaimed,
“From Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana! Then I will pay for your snack.”
He had numerous good issues to say about Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his dream of uniting Africa. A stranger was prepared to supply me help, due to the distinctive achievements of my nation’s first president.
Sports icons
In Ghana, names like Dogo Moro, Wilberforce Mfum, Edward Acquah and Baba Yara simply resonate on the planet of sports activities. These are renown old-time Black Star gamers, who made Ghana proud and carved a reputation for themselves within the historical past of African soccer.
Laying the fitting basis
A narrative is informed of a person of integrity who labored arduous to take care of his youngsters. With numerous sacrifice, he raised sources to assist his youngsters’s training and the final welfare of the household.
At the time of his demise, his grownup youngsters have been wanting ahead to inheriting properties akin to a home and land. Unfortunately, their father was unable to go away any anticipated ‘valuable property’ for them. Indeed, all of them felt that their father had disenchanted them.
Later, after their father’s demise, a daughter of the deceased utilized for a job with a well known firm within the metropolis. In the interview room, the Chief Executive Officer was attracted by the girl’s surname, which sounded acquainted. When he probed additional, he obtained to know that he knew the candidate’s father.
He had labored with him in one other group some years earlier than. He remembered her father as a devoted, hard-working and sincere individual, who performed a major position within the progress and growth of that company entity. With this recollection, he turned to the candidate and stated,
“The interview is over. You are to start work next week.”
The girl was given a excessive place within the firm. Within a few years, she was promoted to the next place and he or she grew to become a member of the Senior Management Team. Their late father had left her and her siblings with an important legacy, a great title – a agency basis – which they may construct on to attain good success in life.
In our modern-day, some people – with or with out pension packages – have struggled by means of life, decided to stay a godly life and achieve their mission on earth with integrity. As cited above, such nice characters could not have the ability to put up mansions for his or her youngsters or go away them with nice riches, however a while after their demise, their noble deeds would open nice doorways of alternatives for his or her relations.
Social Responsibility
In the case of rich retirees, there may be the necessity to do not forget that dwelling an opulent life, whereas ignoring our social duty, displeases God our Maker. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, as narrated in Luke Chapter 16:19-31, serves as a warning to all humankind.
The wealthy man within the narrative lived a godless and egocentric life and didn’t care about poor Lazarus who wanted his assist. In the tip, the wealthy man discovered himself languishing in hell; however the poor godly character, Lazarus, was obtained with pleasure in Heaven.
Our Godly Mission
All individuals dwelling on the planet earth have a God-given mission to perform earlier than we go away this world. We are additionally required to account for the life we lived on earth. The Apostle Paul reminds us,
“… we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad”. (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV).
Accountability
As retired individuals, we should know that cash and mansions don’t assure a contented life, as a result of “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15 NIV).
Therefore, as retirees, we should, in no matter socio-economic scenario or situation we discover ourselves, goal at including worth to our lives, in order that on the finish of all of it, we will go away a value-added legacy for our relations, our group, our nation and the world at massive; and most significantly, obtain God’s approval,
“Well achieved, good and trustworthy servant. You have been trustworthy over a bit of; I’ll set you over a lot. Enter into the enjoyment of your grasp.’ (Matthew 25:23 ESV).
Written by:
John is a HR/Management Practitioner
Phone/WhatsApp: 0244599628
E-mail: [email protected]
