True Forgiveness

Forty-three years seems like a long time

to remember the name of a mere acquaintance.

I have duly forgotten the name of an

old lady who was a customer on my paper route

when I was a twelve-year-old boy in

Marinette, Wisconsin back in 1954.

Yet it seems like just yesterday that

she taught me a lesson in forgiveness

that I can only hope

to pass on to someone else someday.

On a mindless Saturday afternoon,

a friend and I were throwing rocks

onto the roof of the old lady's house

from a secluded spot in her backyard.

The object of our play was

to observe how the rocks changed to missiles

as they rolled to the roof's edge and

shot out into the yard like comets

falling from the sky.

I found myself a perfectly smooth rock

and sent it for a ride.

The stone was too smooth, however,

so it slipped from my hand as I let it go and

headed straight for a small window on

the old lady's back porch.

At the sound of fractured glass,

we took off from the old lady's yard

faster than any of our missiles flew off her roof.

I was too scared about getting caught

that first night

to be concerned about the old lady with

the broken porch window.

However, a few days later, when I was sure that

I hadn't been discovered,

I started to feel guilty for her misfortune.

She still greeted me with a smile each day

when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer

able to act comfortable in her presence.

I made up my mind that I would save

my paper delivery money, and in three weeks

I had the seven dollars that I calculated

would cover the cost of her window.

I put the money in an envelope

with a note explaining that I was sorry

for breaking her window and hoped that

the seven dollars would cover the cost

for repairing it.

I waited until it was dark, snuck up to

the old lady's house, and put the envelope

of retribution through the letter slot in her door.

My soul felt redeemed and I couldn't wait

for the freedom of, once again,

looking straight into the old lady's eyes.

The next day, I handed the old lady her paper

and was able to return the warm smile

that I was receiving from her.

She thanked me for the paper and said,

"Here, I have something for you."

It was a bag of cookies.

I thanked her and proceeded to eat the cookies

as I continued my route.

After several cookies, I felt an envelope

and pulled it out of the bag.

When I opened the envelope, I was stunned.

Inside was the seven dollars

and a short note that said,

"I'm proud of you."

Author Unknown

On the road of life we all must walk.
Often we come across lessons that play
such an integral part in our makeup
that we bring them with us tucked
forever in our hearts.

At the appropriate time we bring them out and
share them with others or
just reflect on what they have taught us.

It is truly a beautiful thing how God weaves
Our lives together with others so unexpectantly.
He truly is the master weaver and
gives us every opportunity to learn and
get the lessons right.
Thank God for such Divine appointments!!!

This dear elderly woman surely covered
the boys transgression with love.
And the words she wrote, “I am proud of you”,
were like apples of gold in pictures of silver
to this young boy.

Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love”.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”.

I would love to pray for you.

Please click the stars to send a prayer request.