The Peanut Seller and a Lesson in Gratitude

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

It had been a long and exhausting day at the office. After spending hours in front of the computer, my body felt drained. As the evening approached, I finally left for home. The city was its usual self—crowded, noisy, and full of chaos. Standing at the bus stop, I almost caught the previous bus but missed it by a few seconds. Though I felt a bit annoyed at first, I reminded myself that perhaps it happened for a reason—everything unfolds according to the will of the Creator.

A few minutes later, another bus arrived. I got on and managed to find a seat by the window. As I sat there watching the fading sunlight and the dusty cityscape, my tired eyes began to rest. Suddenly, a man boarded the bus carrying several plastic bags filled with different kinds of dry snacks—peanuts, puffed rice, fried chickpeas, and other crispy, mouth-watering treats.

He started offering the packets to passengers one by one. Some people bought from him, while others simply ignored him. My eyes fell on the packets of peanuts, and I decided to buy one. Out of curiosity, I asked him, Brother, how’s your sales today? Do you make a good income?”

He smiled gently. I could see the exhaustion on his face, the sweat on his forehead, yet his voice carried a calm simplicity. He replied, “Sir, nothing is certain in this work. Some days I make 500 taka, sometimes 700, and on good days maybe 900. But most days, it’s hard to even manage household expenses. I have to walk all day under the sun, in dust, and sometimes even in the rain. Still, Alhamdulillah, whatever I get, I am grateful to Allah.”

His words hit me deeply. I sat there thinking—how blessed we are! We work in air-conditioned rooms, sit comfortably in the shade, and return home to rest. Yet we complain about so many little things. And here’s a man who spends his entire day under the scorching sun, hustling through the streets, but still thanks the Almighty with a smile.

We often lose patience over the smallest inconveniences—work pressure, traffic jams, or someone’s harsh words. We forget that there are people fighting much tougher battles every single day, yet they remain content.

As the bus rolled forward through the city streets, I kept thinking—how easily we overlook the blessings in our lives. We measure success by comfort, wealth, or luxury, but true happiness lies in being grateful for what we already have.

When the man moved on to the next seat, I silently prayed for him: May Allah bless his work and ease his hardships. At that very moment, I also reminded myself—Allah has kept me far better than I deserve. He has given me health, a job, a home, and a family. Shouldn’t I be even more grateful?

As the cool evening breeze entered through the bus window, I closed my eyes and realized something profound.Life is a delicate balance between struggle and gratitude. And those who truly know how to be grateful, find peace even amidst hardship.