Martha overheard the two diners discussing that a highly popular company is searching for a secretary, and the interview is scheduled for 7 am tomorrow.
Martha, a graduate, was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant to support herself and her mother due to the high unemployment rates. Her dad had passed away, and she was the sole provider.
As she was busy trying to pack all the dirty plates on the table after the diners were done eating, she overheard two ladies discussing. That was when she got to know that a prominent company in town was looking for a secretary.
One of the ladies in a blue dress was working as a cashier in a firm and was paid $30,000 annually, while her friend in red was working as an Editor in a publishing company with an annual wage of $40,000.
Martha, on the other hand, was paid $7,000 annually as a dishwasher. Despite having herself and her mum to take care of, her monthly wage was barely $583, which wasn’t even enough to take care of herself, let alone her mum.
From their discussion, Martha saw how desperate they were to go for the interview tomorrow because the monthly wage for whoever would qualify for the position of secretary was $20,000.
She also heard them saying that all contestants must come with their curriculum vitae to prove that they were graduates and suitable for the job.
That night, Martha couldn’t sleep and kept thinking about the interview. She was worried that she might never be qualified for the job because aside from having a certificate, the only job experience she could boast of was being a dishwasher.
She shared her concerns with her mum, and her mum said, “Martha, a man or woman who fears trying is already a failure for things they never tried. Pocket your worries and go give it a try. It’s better you fail trying than fail fearing. Go, girl, I’m rooting for you.”
The words of her mum encouraged her, and she decided that she was going to go give it a try. However, she was never going to win but to try. She still felt within her that she was not qualified in all ramifications and could never be chosen.
As early as 6:30 am, Martha left for the interview dressed in the same old white suit she wore during her days in college.
As she got close to the gate of the company, she saw an old man who couldn’t walk without support. The man pleaded with Martha to help him cross the busy road.
Martha looked at the time. It was already 6:50 am, and if she wasted more time, she might be late for the interview.
Martha had a very kind heart, and despite the fact that time was against her, she still decided to help the old man.
As she held the old man and tried to lift him up, the old man pushed Martha, and she almost fell on the ground.
She was shocked, and as she tried to ask the old man why he did that, a lady who was watching them the whole time told Martha that the old man was insane.
She said that the old man did likewise to a vast majority of passersby, including ladies who were going for the interview, and they all regretted offering to help him.
On hearing that, Martha got angry, and turned quickly to go for the interview. As she threw 6 steps forward, she changed her mind, turned back, held the man firmly, and tried to take him across.
The old man kept beating Martha as she tried to help him, but she didn’t flinch until she successfully took him to the other side of the road.
She ran at the speed of light and was lucky to make it for the interview at exactly 7 am on the dot.
They asked them all to submit their CVs, and Martha, covered in shame, joined the crowd in submitting her curriculum vitae.
The manager then said, “If you know you came with a coin, raise it up.” Everyone was shocked at such a weird question because all the ladies that came for the interview were sharp-witted and high-class employees in various companies.
They believed that an interview was solely based on paper qualifications and perhaps previous work experience. The hall was quiet because nobody ever saw the need to come with a coin. They had paper money but a coin? Not at all.
A few minutes ago, Martha was given a coin by that old man after helping him cross the road. She had actually rejected it, but as the old man persisted, she reluctantly accepted it and casually tossed it into her breast pocket.
It was at this moment that everything began to make sense to Martha. As she was still trying to connect the dots, the manager asked for the second time:
“I said if you know you came with a coin, please stand up and come forward. That coin you’re holding has automatically made you qualified to be our secretary.”
“It wasn’t a coincidence; you wouldn’t have received the coin even if you were kind. You could only do so if you believed that even if people repaid good with evil, that shouldn’t stop us from doing good. True kindness is when you do good expecting evil in return, hence, You do it for yourself, and not for them.”
“Many of you saw that old man at the gate who pleaded to be assisted in crossing the road and snubbed him. Some of you who were kind tried to help him, and when he repaid good with evil, you left him. Only one of you looked beyond his annoying attitude and helped him regardless. That is the kind of secretary we want, and we’re glad we found one.”