Victory at Last

A number of years ago, my husband and I moved with our two-year-old son, Alvin, into a third-floor apartment. We were the only Christians of the ten families who lived in the five-story building. On our first day, one of the neighbors who lived on the ground floor loudly accused us of throwing a broken light bulb into his apartment.

We had no idea why he was so angry with us.

The next day, the landlord himself asked whether we had thrown a broken bulb into the man’s apartment. At first, we were too shocked to respond.

What was going on? Then we realized the tenants knew we were Christians.

They did not want us there and would try anything to get us in trouble so we would be evicted. The following morning, as my husband and I were leaving to go to work, our neighbor’s wife stood at her doorway, holding her little boy. He was the same age as our son.

As we walked by, she spat at us. I thought it was just a coincidence and did not think much of it. But when we returned home later, she spat at us again.

I just smiled at her as I passed by. I continued to smile each day as we walked by her front door. It seemed like she knew our work hours because she would be waiting for us every time, just to show us how much she disliked us. My husband and I continued to pray over the situation. We felt kind of insecure, knowing we were leaving our son at home with a caregiver.

Then one day, while we were returning from the office, the lady unexpectedly stepped toward me. For a moment, I thought she was going to harass me physically.

Instead, she held my hands and said, “Please forgive me!” Stunned, I asked, “What should I forgive?” She looked at me and replied, “I have been staring at you so angrily and spitting. It is inappropriate. I am sorry.” She asked permission to visit our home, and I welcomed her. Then she shared her story. She invited a leader from her faith community to lunch and asked him if it was OK to treat Christians well if they were your neighbors.

He responded that Christians could be trusted and would cause her no harm. From that day forward, we have become friends, and she considers me to be her mentor.

How important that we remain patient in trouble and persistent in prayer—and trust God will win the victory in the end!

Sweetie Ritchil