“The Blessing of the LORD be Upon You.” – Psalm 129:18
My years attending Christian School were difficult. While I was a young, generous, little girl, sadly, many of my classmates were bullies. Some of these bullies were cruel beyond belief, antagonizing me in the classroom, on the playground, and even in school restrooms. Perhaps the best description I can render is to say that the words used by these bullies were evil. The tall, popular girls from “well to do” families were the worst; standing on toilets in the restroom stalls, peering over, uttering foul comments and laughing.
Physical education periods were some of the most hurtful times. Because the other girls were so tall, they would taunt and tease me by hitting the volleyball high over the net, well out of my reach, and in co-ed baseball I was regularly humiliated, always being the last to be chosen for a team. And since all of the other girls had long, straight hair, naturally, some of the more vile comments hurled at me were in reference to my naturally curly, wavy hair.
Many years later, while in college, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. From that point forward I began to see my experience of being bullied differently, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me that these girls acted the way they did because they were jealous.
Today, as an adult, I now enjoy my long, thick, wavy hair as a “gift from the Lord.”
Most days I even receive compliments, like: “You’re hair is beautiful. It is so thick, curly and wavy.” People often ask, “Is that really your hair?” Once, I even had an eighty year old woman pull on my hair to see if it was real!”
Today I can see that God took what the enemy intended for evil and turned it into something good. And because of that transformation, Christ has also given me a boldness to share Christ, wherever I may be. I share tracts with anyone who will receive them, and I have prayed with people to accept Christ into their lives, as their own, personal Lord and savior.
I bless people with tracts and bibles in cafés, retail stores, restaurants—even gas stations—wherever God directs me. My saddest encounter was with a young man in a café. I shared the Lord with him, gave him a tract, to which he returned with these words with a Southern accent: “I thank you ma’am. When I return to the car I will call my mother and tell her about you.” I know this mother is praying for him.
It was a dear friend—one with beautiful white hair of her own—who suggested I write and share my story to bless others, as my journey now moves forward, from one-on-one encounters, to a larger audience through this article. I am so humbled to be a vessel for what I believe is the most important work I could ever do—to boldly share the Gospel of Christ. And so today, after a year of praying, I step out in faith and obey. I am humbled and amazed how the Lord would use a tiny woman like me to bless other young girls, boys, men and women, who have been, or are, victims of bullying.
If you are a person being bullied, please know that beyond the pain, God has something wonderful in store for you in a time to come. Please know that He is preparing you for a good work, where you, too, will find joy in the Lord, as you will be recognized for what you truly are—a blessing in the lives of others.