Not all that glitters is gold

Kelvin’s father grew up in the provinces of China at a time China was booming in wealth and productivity. On his return to Ghana, he settled to start a family and returning as a relatively rich man, he knew he had to show off a little, if not just too much.

He did that through his fleet of luxurious vehicles, to his majestic mansions, and then to his loudness online.

Everybody knew Kelvin’s father as that rich man who had a say about everything and was mostly firm about the things he spoke out about.

When Kelvin and his other two siblings started growing up, their father made sure to share their lives with his circle of friends, on and offline, proudly as it appeared.

People knew too easily who they were and almost always what they were about. Their lives were just mirrors on public lanes.

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Nico’s father grew up in a large family in a remote village but that did not mean that he was from a poor background.

It was a large family setting because his father was the chief of the rich farming community and was widely known to be the chief of the small village that fed most parts of the country with sugarcane.

Nico had the best education from the best schools in the big cities but as was the tradition at home, his vacations were spent back at home in the village, helping in the family business.

Above all, there was such a warm relationship between all of them so much that it was almost impossible to believe that between every three siblings of his, they was a probability that all were step siblings to one another.

That was how he grew up to appreciate humble beginnings and learnt the caution with not being ‘somewhat boastful’ although he had it all growing up regardless.

To his own children, while there was all they would also need to survive and enjoy their childhoods, he made sure they earned every praise that came to them through evidential hardwork. Nothing was on a silver platter for them.

Nico’s father also taught them the priceless lesson of respecting all and welcoming all views regardless of who or how they make them and he made sure to pass down those virtues.

They also understood that not all that glitters is gold.

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Kelvin’s father was loud. Yes! But he was not that caring except for always making money available to them to use for all they needed.

Yet, he was that father who too quickly rode on the successes of his children, sharing same with the world.

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Nico’s father almost never spoke about his children but there was no father as more-involving in his children’s lives and being tangibly responsible than he was.

He was polygamous but he truly loved and cared. His love was his involvement and provision for his children and ultimately, his family, in a respects.

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Kelvin’s father understood love through largesse and showing-off, but not necessarily through physically showing concern.

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Morale of the Story: Not all that glitters is gold.