Speak Up And Don't Look Down

I know that you would think that I was bullied in school.  But in my senior year, I was 6 foot tall and weighed a whopping 110 pounds.  If I stood sideways and stuck my tongue out, I looked like a zipper. Because I was so light, it was easy to get dumped into the trash cans.  I spent a lot of time in trash cans.

Needless to say, I didn't like going to school.  No amount of protesting, kicking and screaming would deter these people.  Then one day in the youth group I heard this verse.

Proverbs 15:1-4 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I thought, "Why not, nothing else has worked."  So the next day, as I walked to class, I could hear the footsteps of my assailants approaching.  I quickly turned on my heels and looked at them square in the eye and said, "Really?"  It stopped them dead in their tracks.  They looked at each other and in unison said, "Really!" "Fine!"  I said.  "If we are going to do this then there have to be some rules.  #1  You cannot make me tardy for class.  #2 If I am carrying anything, then I must be allowed to put it down.  #3 You cannot allow anyone else to do this to me, I can only take so much of this."  The confusion on their face was priceless.  They agreed, I put my books down and into the trash can I went.  For the last time.  

Later I asked them why they stopped.  Their answer was, "You took all the fun out of it."  Whew!  

From that day on I spoke up when bullied.  Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.  But I never had to keep my eyes to the ground in shame again.  

Life will bully you again and again. Speak the Word of God into your life and don't be ashamed of what life tries to tell you.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, help me to speak up and stop looking down.  AMEN