Do unto others...

I remember the day I met him. It was the first week of the second grade. He was a new student. As he entered the class I remember thinking that he was a cutie-pie, and I was going to be his friend. Our teacher introduced him, and for the sake of respect, I will use just his first name, Chris. I liked his name. I'm sure of this memory, because the teacher then asked him to spell his last name. It was a difficult, long name. He said then that he didn't know how to spell it. I remember then a sound that came to be familiar when Chris was around. It came from a majority of the class, and it was a mocking laughter. This first day set the stage for Chris' experience on this earth. He was a very nice person. Over the yesrs, I got to know Chris. We were both in the gifted program at our school. He was in Art, and I was in Spotlight. Our classes worked very closely, sometimes on the same projects. We went on school trips together, and got to know one another. I am ashamed to say that I kept Chris at a distance. It seemed like everyone made fun of him, and if you were playing with him, or talking to him, you were targeted too. I really couldn't understand it. He didn't dress different, talk weird, or smell bad. He was exactly like the rest of us, but on his first day, he couldn't spell his last name. In the sixth grade, the gifted class went to a cave. This was the most fascinating, frightening, and fun trip I ever went on. I have yet to rival it in my 30 something years! We were pulling into the driveway of the school, and our gifted teacher was waiting outside her van for us to arrive. She had been crying. As we gathered outside the bus, she began to tell us of a phone call she had received. It was about Chris, and it was bad news. It wasn't until she said his name that I realized he had not attended the trip with us. That night, while all of us were having a blast, unaware of the torment he was enduring inside, Chris took his life. His family found him hanging by a chain in his home. Sixth grade!! My daughter is in the sixth grade! We were shocked as the loss began to sink in. I was extremely ashamed of myself in that I didn't stick up for him, or show him more that I cared about him, or even acted like his friend. We were all guilty. Guilty of making his life so miserable that he could find nothing worth living for. Still to this day, I visit his grave when I can, crying like it was the day I learned he was gone. He was a talented artist, and a good person. He was kind and meek. He would have been a good dad, I think. The lesson I learned from this experienced was that I shouldn't judge anyone or degrade people. God loves everyone equally. There is not a popular crowd in the kingdom, and we would all do well to remember that. If you feel inadequate, or left out, I can relate, but that is not always a reason to isolate yourself. If you feel unwanted or unloved by everyone around you, know that you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus shed His blood for you, so that you could spend an eternity with Him. He desires to have a personal relationship with you. Won't you trust Him with your life today? He will never leave you or forsake you. If you have burdens, He will lift them off and give you freedom and peace. He is waiting for you to invite Him into your life, and give him all your troubles and emotions. He can heal your broken heart, and give you a new life. Won't you let Him heal all your wounds this life has dealt you? He has healed mine, and I am sure He can heal yours too.