Jim (not his real name) lost thousands of dollars to fraud. He became frustrated and discouraged. He feared and felt he had no strength to start again because he was in his fifties. Jim decided to commit suicide by jumping from a bridge into the deep. As he was about to jump, a homeless man called Dave (not his real name) in tattered clothes was walking nearby, saw and grabbed him, preventing him from jumping down. Jim tried to drag himself from Dave by shouting let me go! Dave responded, “I will let you go, but wait and let me show you something.”
After Jim calmed down, Dave said let me have your money, phone and every valuable you have with you. Jim looked curious and asked, “Why would I do that?” He answered and said, “I want to show you something.” He then delivered everything to him, including his top and trousers. In response, Dave said, “Thank you. All these would be wasted in the water, and if you’re lucky, they would be taken by people you do not know after you jumped and died. But now you should be happy to die because, with the money and the valuables, you have just helped a homeless man to secure food, clothing and shelter for some months.”
As Dave was about to run away, Jim was quick enough to grab him and threatened to call the cops on him if he didn’t release his clothes and valuables. Dave gave in and asked why he wanted to commit suicide. After he heard the story of Jim, Dave responded he was foolish to have thought of killing himself. He then said he was sentenced to 7 years for a crime he never committed. He came out last two weeks only to discover that all he had worked for had been sold by his wife and friends who framed him. But he encouraged himself that he would start all over again. Dave continued that as long as he still has breath, any man can be redeemed, and when there is life, there is hope.
Jim looked at him amazingly and asked about his age. Dave responded that he was sixty-five. Jim busted to tears and admitted that he was indeed a fool to have thought of killing himself. After about a decade of hard work and focus, life smiled at them again, and they both soon forgot their mystery. The two became intimate friends and lived to encourage each other. They also became a source of encouragement to the hopeless and the downtrodden.
Are you also contemplating taking your life, or you’re about to do a stupid thing because of the mishap life has thrown at you? Let me assure you, you don’t need to do that, even if it is your fault. Summon the courage and look up to God through Christ Jesus. He will give hope and a brand-new beginning. Remember, it is not over until it is over. The power to decide is in your hands; you can use it to destroy yourself or save and help yourself with it.
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God bless you.
