Forgiveness
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
Jessie worked at a grocery store after school. He skimped and saved, working long hours to fulfill his dream of going to England. He had been fascinated with England since his social studies class in fourth grade, and it was his dream to go there after high school graduation. Jessie wanted to see the world, starting with England.
Jessie made it to England and had a wonderful time hiking and walking through the countryside. He met truly interesting and kind people along the way and invited all of them to come to stay with him when they came to America. He left them with promises to write.
Jessie wrote and received letters from his new friends. One of them asked him for money. The man needed money for surgery, it was urgent, and he didn't know anyone else who could come up with that kind of money. He promised Jessie he would be repaid within the year. Jessie sent him three thousand dollars.
Jessie was successful in college, graduating in three and a half years instead of four. All the long hours of studying and going to summer school paid off: he was one of the youngest to pass the bar. Jessie got on board with a successful law firm as a public defense attorney. He didn't make as much as his colleagues, but he knew it was a good solid beginning. He would eventually make lots of money and travel. He had promised himself another major trip after graduation. He wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand to see kiwi and sheep farms, to see both clipper and cruise ships, and to see both the waterfront and indigenous areas. He had studied the countries and couldn't wait to see them. But first he'd have to get a hold of those three thousand dollars he had loaned a few years ago after his trip to England. He never did hear from the fellow.
Jessie tried to contact him, but the man's phone number was out of order. He called information. No, there was no one living in the town with that name. He called the magistrate's office. No, there was a man with that name three or four years ago, but he was wanted on theft charges and had moved on. Jessie had been conned out of three thousand dollars.
Jessie had to make a decision. Should he pursue this matter further, at his own expense? Or should he just let it go? It irked him that he had been so dumb, but he had been on a high from traveling through England and Jessie in his excitement, loaned his transient friend the money.
Jessie would have to write it off as a learning experience. He'd have to forgive and forget about it.
Jessie made it to England and had a wonderful time hiking and walking through the countryside. He met truly interesting and kind people along the way and invited all of them to come to stay with him when they came to America. He left them with promises to write.
Jessie wrote and received letters from his new friends. One of them asked him for money. The man needed money for surgery, it was urgent, and he didn't know anyone else who could come up with that kind of money. He promised Jessie he would be repaid within the year. Jessie sent him three thousand dollars.
Jessie was successful in college, graduating in three and a half years instead of four. All the long hours of studying and going to summer school paid off: he was one of the youngest to pass the bar. Jessie got on board with a successful law firm as a public defense attorney. He didn't make as much as his colleagues, but he knew it was a good solid beginning. He would eventually make lots of money and travel. He had promised himself another major trip after graduation. He wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand to see kiwi and sheep farms, to see both clipper and cruise ships, and to see both the waterfront and indigenous areas. He had studied the countries and couldn't wait to see them. But first he'd have to get a hold of those three thousand dollars he had loaned a few years ago after his trip to England. He never did hear from the fellow.
Jessie tried to contact him, but the man's phone number was out of order. He called information. No, there was no one living in the town with that name. He called the magistrate's office. No, there was a man with that name three or four years ago, but he was wanted on theft charges and had moved on. Jessie had been conned out of three thousand dollars.
Jessie had to make a decision. Should he pursue this matter further, at his own expense? Or should he just let it go? It irked him that he had been so dumb, but he had been on a high from traveling through England and Jessie in his excitement, loaned his transient friend the money.
Jessie would have to write it off as a learning experience. He'd have to forgive and forget about it.
