The Impact of Injustices

August 1 2018

Each one of us has memories that we are fond of and bring us laughter. Then there are those we wish we could forget. The not so pleasant ones can include being bullied, passed over for a promotion, being laid off a job, breaking up with someone you really cared about, and making bad decisions that resulted in unfavorable consequences. The list could go on and on and our memory bank could get stuck in replay mode and cause us to become disheartened. One memory that seemed to pop in my mind recently was one of injustice. I have many of those since I grew up in an era where injustice was tolerated.

I vividly recall when I was about six to seven years old, there was this man that came through our neighborhood that sold watermelons. He was an older man, but he appeared to be pretty nice. Since I was always trying to find ways to make money as a young boy, I asked him if he needed someone to help him. I promised him I would work hard. I got permission from my mom and away we went. It was my job to carry the watermelon to the house once the sale was completed. I took pride in what I was doing, and believe I did a good job.

As we were riding through the neighborhood, I saw a half dollar in the street and I asked the man to stop. I got off the back of the truck and picked the money up and put it in my pocket. I was thinking this was going to be a day for me. I found fifty cents and I am going to get paid for my labor.

At the end of the day when it was time to settle, the man asked me where the money was I found. I naively, but proudly pulled it out of my pocket and displayed it in my hand. He said okay and then laid another dollar and fifty cents in my hand. The total came to two dollars. Now don’t get me wrong, two dollars was good money for a six-year-old, but he took advantage of me by taking credit for what I found. I did not have the courage to say to him, that is not fair, I found that fifty cents.

When I arrived back home, and my mom asked how much money I made, I said “two dollars”. I could tell she was very proud of me just wanting to earn my own money. I was too embarrassed to say to her that I found fifty cents of this money and all the man did was add another dollar and fifty cents. I was too tough to cry, but inside I was torn apart.

How could that man take advantage of a six-year-old like that? I wondered then and I still wonder about that to this day. Did his conscience ever bother him? Injustices are inevitable, but we can use them to help drive us to do great things. God saw what happened to me and I know He dealt with this man in His own way. He watches over us and will protect us. What happened to me was one of many things that gave me the impetus to drive hard to become successful in life. What was meant for bad turned out for my good.