by Bobby Whitney
Hello guys.
India has really opened many doors for me. I am starting to have guitar lessons. I was a bit wary at first because the teacher kept on saying “betta, betta.” I thought he was pressuring me to do better. I later found out that “betta” is how Indians greet men! It means “brother.” I’m learning about good communication!
My school is also performing a play called “Bugsy Malone.” It is based on one of my all time favorite movies of the same name. I’ve got quite a big part and I am very excited.
Now let me tell you about the most inspirational few days of my life. I was being bullied. That is until Monday the 29th of October. I got up and started reading the responsive reading, golden text and a section from the “my Bible Lesson” while munching on my peanut butter and toast. That’s when my eyes shifted to my mum’s newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, laying on the center of the table.
On the left-hand corner of the page I saw the words which changed my day, if not my life. They read “To injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” I realized that the bullying I had been suffering was a reflection of what I had first done to the bullies. It was all based around the fact that I didn’t think before I opened my mouth. There had been a stream of “your momma” jokes (like the yo momma jokes in the U.S.) going around the school, and I had joined in. Without thinking, I said one to the biggest guy in my class. I thought that these jokes were completely harmless. I obviously thought wrong.
So I decided to go to school with the motto from The Monitor in my head. I didn’t say a “your momma” joke that day. Instead, I complimented classmates on their work, and tried to be much friendlier to everyone, even those continuing with the insulting jokes. Before I said anything, I thought about if it would harm anyone or not.
The day after I had started practicing this, a boy came up and attacked me. He put me in a headlock and started punching me. A few boys from my class, who I had been actively mentally loving, pushed this boy off me. They asked him why he attacked me and they told him I was cool and nice and there was no point in hitting me. I am so thankful to them and to that healing idea from The Monitor.
I have relied on prayer and God’s support all my life. And for that, I am truly grateful.
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This is SUCH a good story! Thank you for sharing Robert. Anyone who has been through primary or middle school can find what you have shared SO helpful!!!
Keep up the great work.
i really like how you fixed a mistake with Love. i’m going to remember this.