THE RIGHT THING
Born in New York in a Suburb called Yonkers my friends were always those who enjoyed playing outside in the cold of winter. Our greatest sport was kick ball. We always used the spongy one. Our street was not the widest in New York and we knew that if that ever hit any car it would not break any windshields or dent any doors or hoods. We only had to worry about Tiny. Tiny was really not tiny he was big but we called him Tiny. He was 12 years old and weighed a close 250 lbs and stood 5’9. His family was Italian so we knew that his mother fed him well. You see there was that time Tiny was running for a pop up that was kicked and let’s just say that when Tiny hit the side of Mrs. Morthers brand new Cadillac is was not a pretty sight. The Cadillac lost. Everyone ran except for me and Kenny. We just stared at the Cadillac. Even Tiny got up and ran, well more like wobbled away. The next thing I felt was Mrs. Morther dishwashing cold wet hands pinching my ears and her screeching voice saying, “You know who did this?” Of course I did not want to be a rat so I denied it the best I could.
My dad was a hard worker. Most days my dad would leave in the morning usually before we woke up and would return at night right before we went to bed. He was a man of integrity. We were raised in a religious home with pictures of Jesus on our walls and the cross in all our bedrooms. Every Sunday we would go to church and my father would not allow us to sit in the service but always volunteered us to do something. Whether it was Sunday School, serving or handing out bulletins we were always told that Christians are those who serve and are people of action not reaction. I never really knew what that meant until I got older. So there I was in front of the man who ran our home and taught us the good principles of the bible staring me in the eyes.
“I know how you feel son. Being a rat is not something someone wants to be. “ he calmly spoke those words to me. I could not help but tear. “Now let me ask you this” he said, “did you do it?” I slowly nodded my head “no.” He then asked “do you know who did it?” Slowly with tears running down my 11 year old face whispered, “yessss..” My dad then held my shoulder as of assuring me that it was o.k. but wanted me to understand something. He took a deep breathe and said, “Son, even though you did not do it, but you knew who did and was not willing to tell, it was only right that we pay for the damages.” I immediately said, “That was not fair.” My dad then told me a story in the bible that relates to God’s mercy and judgment.
David was a man of God who loved God a lot. He was attracted to a woman but the problem is the woman was another mans wife. He did not care but instead took her to his house and she turned out to be pregnant. To make the matter worse David had no choice but to kill her husband to hide the affair. David thought he got away but God knew. You see God told David that he had done an evil thing but that God knew deep inside David loved God but was weak and did wrong. David begged for God’s forgiveness and God forgave David. God then said that just because David was forgiven he would have to pay for the consequences of His sin. This consequence was that the baby would die and that the sword will not depart from the house of David. Just because we receive God’s forgiveness does not mean we immediately live without the consequences of our sins.
My Dad then explained to me that the consequence of me knowing and yet not telling is that we pay for the damages. So sure we keep what we think is right but we ultimately pay for it elsewhere. My dad ultimately paid for the repairs himself. Kenny was not going to tell either but Kenny’s dad was not like my dad. So Kenny’s dad did not offer anything. When the news spread through the neighborhood that my dad paid for the repairs even though it was not his sons fault, Tiny confessed to his dad. Tiny’s dad was very apologetic. Tiny’s dad owned a small fruit cart in the neighborhood. He could not pay back my dad all at once but between the free fruit and payments all was finally made well and right.
*THIS STORY IS COPYRIGHT.
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