Bullies All Around
“They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.” (Psalms 109:5 NIV)
My family moved when I was in junior high so that my dad could find a job. I’d hoped the change would bring a new start for me. When you’re overweight, school can be a tough place to be. I learned quickly that a group of girls at my new school had made it their mission to make my life miserable. They didn’t like the way I looked.
Even though their snickers and rude comments in class were embarrassing and hurtful, I tried to overlook them. I wanted to be friends, but just when I thought I was gaining ground, they would turn on me. They’d twist something I’d say and then the whole group would gang up on me when I was alone.
“Who do you think you are—trying to hang around us?” said Jean, the leader of the gang.
“You’ll never be good enough for us,” Debbie said. “By the way, when are ya gonna lose some weight?”
‘Yeah, you’ve gotten bigger since you invaded on us,” Jean said. Then she looked at Debbie with delight in her eyes and they busted out laughing. Their friends joined in making more jokes about the fat girl—me.
I wanted to run and hide because their words were so hurtful. After a while, I didn’t want to go to school. But through prayer, God gave me grace to survive and thrive.
Bullying Tip – Be aware of cyber-bullying for yourself and your friends. Intimidation can start off with seemingly innocent comments that will increase overtime to aggressive, intentional, hurtful behavior, all done with a few key strokes and the click of a mouse. Don’t take it—tell it.
CRYSTAL Y. HATHCOCK
Crystal Y. Hathcock and her husband Tony, live in Liberty, South Carolina and have been married for thirty-two years. They have two puppies, Hankie and Calvin. Crystal is a freelance writer; a student with the Christian Writer’s Guild and writes religious articles for the area’s local newspaper. She enjoys cooking for family and friends, couponing, jewelry making and singing. (read more…)
Secrets…To Keep or Not To Keep?
Secrets; we all have them. Some are buried deep in our hearts where no one knows about them except God. Some secrets we can’t keep to ourselves so we share them with someone close. Often we share our deepest or most embarrassing secrets with our best friends because we trust them. Most secrets are not supposed to be shared such as who your friend has a crush on, the details of their last dream, or who they secretly want to go with to the prom.
People think a person isn’t a true friend unless they keep their friend’s secrets. That’s not true. There are circumstances when a friend must a serious secret that involves your friend being hurt or hurting someone else.
Here are a handful of examples: when they are being abused in any way, practicing self mutilation, is depressed, being threatened, using drugs or alcohol illegally, or attempting suicide. In all of these cases your friend has a dangerous secret and needs help. You must be willing to put your friendship on the line; even if it destroys your friendship, it could save their life, so in the end it would be worth it. If you are harboring some one’s dangerous secret, tell a trusted adult.
Your friend may not appreciate it now, but someday they will be grateful for your intervention.
Casey
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