06/09/2026
Give Me the Chicken While I Can Still Eat It
I came across this photo and honestly, it made me pause.
The message on the sign says:
“It is better to give someone a chicken when alive than to donate a cow during his funeral.”
That statement may sound funny at first, but there is a serious lesson hiding inside it.
Think about our relationships with friends, siblings, parents, relatives and even colleagues.
Sometimes, we wait until someone is gone before we suddenly remember how much they meant to us.
When they were alive, we were “too busy” to visit.
Too busy to call.
Too busy to check whether they had eaten.
Too busy to send ₦5,000 when they were struggling.
Too busy to show up when they needed help.
But when they die, suddenly there is money for a cow.
There is money for asoebi.
There is money for transportation.
There is money to print banners.
There is money to feed hundreds of mourners.
And we say:
“He was such a good man.”
“She was such a wonderful woman.”
“I wish we had more time.”
But here is the uncomfortable question:
Why do we sometimes value people more when we can no longer benefit them—or when they can no longer benefit from us?
Maybe the “chicken” doesn't even have to be money.
It could be a phone call.
A visit.
A plate of food.
Paying someone's transport fare.
Helping with school fees.
Checking on that friend who has gone unusually quiet.
Supporting your sibling's small business.
Buying something from your relative.
Saying “I appreciate you.”
Even sitting down and having a meaningful conversation.
And no, this doesn't mean we should give beyond our means. It simply means that love and generosity are most meaningful when the person is still here to experience them.
Because what is the value of giving someone a cow at their funeral when, while they were alive, you couldn't give them a chicken?
So, let me throw this question to you:
Are we sometimes spending more money to mourn people than we were willing to spend to support them while they were alive?
And another one:
What is one thing you wish your friends or family members would do for you while you are still alive—not after you're gone?
Let's hear different perspectives.
Do you agree with the proverb, or do you think there is another side to this story?
