Light the world day 6

This post is about day 6 of the #LightTheWorld challenge. The 25 days leading up to Christmas.

      

Jesus taught:

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."

—Matthew 7:1

Only Jesus lived a sinless life. We should show compassion when others make mistakes, and we trust that others will show us compassion when we have been less than perfect.

HERE ARE WAYS THE WEBSITE SUGGESTS TO SHOW COMPASSION

Do you owe someone an apology?

Ask for the person’s forgiveness today.

Are you having trouble understanding someone else’s perspective?

Take time to really listen and try to understand the person’s point of view.

Do you find yourself sometimes thinking negative things about others?

Help to overcome this habit by saying nice things behind people’s backs.

I followed this challenge last year, but I did not participate. This year I decided to take part in this challenge, because it really touched my heart to read all these stories, and somehow it changes your outlook on life.  

I hope by reading my story I can touch someone else’s heart.  

A few years ago I was still teaching in a small town. I was just divorced and I was very fragile. I had two little boys that needed all my attention. One evening when I was about to pack lunch for school the next day, I realized that I forgot to buy bread. 

I just had a bath and my hair was still wet, but I had no other choice but to load the kids in the car and to go and buy  bread. I didn’t like driving at night, woman alone with two kids, but we lived in a fairly safe town. Here in South Africa the crime rate is very high, and it is often not even safe in your own house so to go anywhere in reality is a danger zone. 

I parked in front of the shop, and I asked the kids to sit in the car while I quickly ran into the shop to buy bread. I kept my eyes on the car as I am a bit paranoid but I was back at the car in a minute or two. I just made it in to the shop, as the  shop owner was about to lock the door, and he literally locked the door behind me.  

All was good until I started the car. It was as dead as a door-nail. I tried again.  NOTHING. For some mysterious reason, the car would not start. 

There we sat in the dark. I decided not to panic because panic just make things worse. I decided to phone a friend. I know absolutely nothing about cars, so chances were great that he knew more than me and could come and help me. It was just one of those rare moments when you have to throw all your pride out the window and rely on someone else for help.  

I grabbed my handbag to grab my phone. No cell phone. Damn! As luck would have it I left my phone at home on charge. I was in such a hurry to go I completely forgot the most important tool for traveling. 

I felt like crying. Here I was, alone in a dead car, with two tired little boys. I felt like an idiot BUT I also felt scared and lost. You know that feeling where you want to kick yourself?  That was me! 

I remember that I prayed and asked for help because there was literally NOTHING else that I could do. 

There was no one close to me that could help and as I looked in the rear-view mirror I saw the shop owner drive away. He must have gone out the back door, because he definitely did not come past my car. Both the boys had fallen asleep so I sat there no knowing what to do.  

I had the fright of my life when there was a sudden knock on the car window.  Out of the blue a young man appeared next to the car. 

I knew him. It was one of my ex-students.....

I have been a teacher for many years and many students have gone through my hands. Some of them have been good, while others were not, but this particular student I will never forget in my whole life.  

There comes a time in every teacher’s life when he/she knows that there is nothing that you can do for certain students. It's not a matter of giving up on someone, but more of them giving up on life. At that stage this boy was lost, and no matter how hard we tried to get him back on track, nothing would change his mind.  

If someone doesn't WANT to be helped, it doesn’t matter how hard you try, or how you motivate, there are just some kids that doesn’t want to be helped. This boy was one of them. 

As I looked at him through the window, I suddenly remembered the last words that I had ever spoken to him.  

I remember I took him aside on his last day of school and I said: 

“I am not giving up on you, but your stubbornness is going to land you in jail one day, and it is only then that you will realize the importance of life." 

Pushing all personal feelings aside, I had no choice here. I rolled down the window a little and greeted him. 

He smiled at me and greeted back. I haven't seen him in a few years, but he looked good. We had a very short conversation and when I asked him what he did for a living, he told me that he was just released from prison and that he was now looking for a job. I kept the conversation going as I now wanted to know more. He told me the story of how they were involved in a fight, and that someone was killed. He was sentenced to five years in prison for murder. They appealed, and their brilliant lawyer got the sentence turned to manslaughter on some technicality. 

I sat there thinking to myself. "You idiot! Here you are in the middle of nowhere, with a car that wouldn't start and your only hope is to be saved by a murderer."

I’ve never felt so guilty and stressed all at the same time. Somehow, this turned into a longer conversation when he told me that he had found God while he was in prison and that he was now done with his wicked ways, and then he said something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.  

He said:

“Ma’am you were right, there was nothing you could have said or done that would have helped me on the right path. You were right when you said that I had to go to jail first to learn the value of life.”  

He opened the car door and gave me a hug. I felt ashamed of myself. Here I sat, judging this person for something that he has done, I judged him on the way he looked and because of his past actions.  

I suddenly had a sense of relief and a kind of peace came over me that I can’t describe to anyone.

BUT I was still stuck in a situation with a dead car. He was about to leave, when I called him back as he was my only hope.  

I explained to him what was wrong with the car and he asked me to turn the key again to see. 

Now believe it or not, when I turned the key, the car started immediately as if there was NOTHING wrong with it.  

Call it what you want, but I believe that God sent me a murderer to pose as an angel that night, and God himself taught me the greatest lesson of my life.  

Never judge anyone, because of their previous behavior.....    

This reminded me of a story that I read recently.

Once there was a young man and his father traveling together on a train.  The young man was in his early twenties. There were many other people on the train and every now and then the young boy jumped up and looked out the window.  Then he shouted to his dad: 

“Dad, wow! Look at all the trees!”

Then he would sit down, but a few seconds later he would jump up again and look out the window and shout something else to his dad.  

His dad did nothing and just smiled every time his son said something.  

The other people on the train started to get annoyed as he was really annoying and he was disturbing their ride.  

The boy jumped up again and shouted:

"Dad wow! Look at the clouds!" 

When the boy shouted again a man opposite them sounding very irritated said to the father:

“What is wrong with this young man? Have you thought of taking him to a doctor? He must be mentally challenged.” 

The dad smiled at the man and said: 

“Oh yes, we just came from the hospital. You see, my son was born blind, and he received a new retina last week. For the first time in his life, he can now see and everything is a totally new experience to him.” 

May you all be blessed during this season of joy!