Subway theives

[Heidilein]

Yesterday I had my wallet stolen out of my purse while sitting on the subway. A man sat down very close to me and I didn't notice it was gone until I got out of the train. The more I think about it, the madder and more confused I get. What right does anyone have to take someone else's belongings?! I can't just easily forgive him, and I'm also having negative feelings towards a certain group of people that he belongs to. Any advice?

 

[seebs]

Well, if the group of people is identified by, say, skin color, or clothing, then the best thing to do is drop the prejudice before you get burned by someone who doesn't fit your profile.

Anyway, the thing to think about, in my experience, is how awful it must be being that desparate for money. Try to imagine how sad he must be. That might be a way to think about this that would help you forgive him.

[pedantic]BTW, i before e.[/pedantic]

 

[Heidilein]

Spelling mistakes happen. But I tend to correct, as well. I know better than to generalize, but it's not always easy. There are more productive ways to get money, however. But I haven't been in that situation and perhaps steeling would seem like the only option.

 

[Risen Tree]

Do you remember any physical attributes about the man? The more you know, the more information you can give the police.

 

[Yitzchak]

Being angry is a healthy and normal response to what happened. Learning to love the unloveable is part of spiritual maturity and not an easy thing to do. I think it is healthy to see accurately the wrong that this person did.

We do not forgive because the wrongs done to us were not really wrongs or not so bad. that is an immature forgiveness and love. With maturity we learn to not deny the hurt and evil but choose to show grace and forgiveness in spite of it.

 

[ShetlandRose]

I sure understand. My wallet was stolen from my purse on two occasions. It caused me great inconvience and some financial hardship (because my entire cashed paycheck was inside once). Another time money was stolen from my home by a friend. After the initial shock and anger, I forgave the thieves and was able to pray for them (unknown and known persons). For the unknowns I decided that God may have allowed the crime so that I could indeed pray for the individuals--perhaps they have no one in the whole world to pray for them! In that, God was giving me a mission.

 

[Heidilein]

For the unknowns I decided that God may have allowed the crime so that I could indeed pray for the individuals--perhaps they have no one in the whole world to pray for them! In that, God was giving me a mission.

That's a very interesting way to look at it, Shetland. I like it.

And I agree that forgiveness shouldn't be about the level of sin!

I do remember the man, but I had to tell the police in a different language and it's much harder to express.

Thanks y'all!

 

[ShetlandRose]

That's a very interesting way to look at it, Shetland. I like it.


Thanks y'all!

I'm not super spiritual...may I add that I sure wished God had chosen a different way to give me that "mission."

 

[Neenie]

I feel your fustration Heidilein, I had my car stolen a few day's ago, it sent me out of my mind with complete rage and anger!, what made it worse is that i had hardly any money in the bank, it would have took me months to get another car, Luckly the Police found it today abandoned in a street, it was such a relief to go and pick it up to find it was still working fine!. These things happen, the best way to get over it IMO is to think of worse things that could have happened.