A Forgiven Hero

(Unforgettable)

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds."

Psalm 77:11-12

Jacob had just moved into a small community and felt the full weight of loneliness.  He was eight years old and in need of new friends.  In his former neighborhood, he'd had many friendships and was considered one of the most popular kids in town.  It was easy to see why.  His face displayed fine features, topped by thick black hair, beautiful blue eyes, and a personality that could soften a porcupine.  He was not a boy who was drawn to mischief or to kids who caused trouble.  But being new in town, his identity was shaken, and he took hold of the first group of boys he came upon.

Within minutes, the rather rough group of boys were inviting Jacob to join their club.  Although he had instinctive misgivings, Jacob's strong desire to belong overcame his good judgment, and he asked what he had to do to join.  Billy, the self-proclaimed leader of the group, took a step forward and looked straight into Jacob's eyes.  Spitting arrogantly on the sidewalk, he looked at the other boys for assent, then spoke:  "Well, if you want to be a part of the Panthers, you will have to go down this street to the gray and white house on the corner.  That's old Miss Hardy's place.  We all hate her because she is so mean.  What you have to do is take a rock and throw it through her picture window.  If you do that, you will be a full-fledged member of the Panthers.  Now, what do you
say?"

Jacob looked down for a few seconds, kicking at the dust.  "I don't know about that.  If you are so upset about her being mean, why do you want me to do something mean to her?  That doesn't make sense."

Billy quickly spoke up.  "That's just what I thought, guys, Jacob is a wimp, and I'm afraid wimps don't mix well with Panthers."

He looked at Jacob again and mocked him in a squeaky voice, "There is a girls' group over on the next block called the Pink Carnations, and I am sure you would fit in great with them."

The needling worked.  Jacob found himself picking up a large stone and stomping off toward Miss Hardy's house.  The group, knowing they had gotten to him, marched off behind him, eager to see the action unfold.

The reputation Mary Hardy had with the boys mirrored the one she possessed with the rest of the community.  She was in her mid thirties, with a square build, black unmanaged hair, sunken eyes, and a notoriously short temper.  She knew that no one cared about her; therefore, she was not going to look out for anyone else.  The less she had to do with her neighbors, the better---and vice versa.

When the boys turned the corner, Miss Hardy just happened to be looking out the window through which Jacob intended to hurl his stone.  She noticed that he stood alone out in front of all the other boys.  Suddenly, he reared back and gave the stone a whopping toss.  The window shattered in a hundred pieces right in front of her.  The noise was so loud that Jacob and the other boys stood in stunned silence.  That is, until Miss Hardy appeared on the porch, running down the steps in hysterics.

"What in the world do you think you are doing, you bad boys?" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

The boys disappeared in a flash, except Jacob.  When he heard her lump him with those "bad boys," he felt a sudden surge of sorrow for the broken window and simply stood there until she reached him. 

"Do you realize what you have done, young man?" cried Mary.

Jacob lowered his head and softly said, "Yes, and I am very sorry I did it."

"What is your name and where do you live?" Miss Hardy demanded.

"My name is Jacob Madison, and I just moved in about three blocks from here," he responded.

"Well, Jacob, you and I are going to pay a visit to your parents right this minute," she said.

"Yes, ma'am,' Jacob surrendered.

The knock on the door was answered by Jacob's mother.  Her appearance was the exact opposite of Mary Hardy's.  She was tall and lean with soft, brown hair.  Her smile seemed a permanent fixture on her face.

After introducing herself, Mary started right in.  'You have a problem child here, Mrs. Madison, and I want him kept away from me and my property.  I also want you to pay for the picture window he broke today."

Jacob's mother looked at him, searching his eyes.  He nodded his head in a confessional response.  She then looked at Mary and explained that they had just arrived in town and the move had been hard on Jacob.  "He is a very good boy, Miss Hardy, with a very good heart, and I am sure that nothing like this will ever happen again.  You can be sure that Jacob will pay for the window---every penny."

Miss Hardy responded with a gruff, "I certainly hope so," then she turned and walked away with heavy steps.

Jacob knew his mother had an understanding heart, and her willingness to forgive him made the moral failure burn in his soul.  He had to make it right.  He prayed for a chance to make it up to Miss Hardy.

Two days later Jacob was walking down the street and encountered the same group of boys taunting Miss Hardy as she was walking home with an armload of groceries.  The boys were unrelenting, especially Billy.

Jacob stood on the sidewalk and stepped between Miss Hardy and the Panthers.  "OK, guys," Jacob said, "this has gone far enough.  Miss Hardy never did anything to any of you.  From now on, if I catch any of you giving her trouble, you are going to have to answer to me."

Billy stepped forward.  "Is that supposed to scare us?" he sneered.

"Not everyone, Billy, just you.  Because the first person I'll call on will be you.  Is that understood?"

Billy's face dropped, and he motioned the boys to walk away with him.  Jacob quickly turned to a startled Mary Hardy.  "Miss Hardy, I would like to help you carry those groceries home if you will let me.  I know what I did was wrong, and I want to make it up to you."

That day Mary Hardy changed, not only toward Jacob, but toward the whole community.  Everywhere she went, she told the story about her hero, Jacob Madison, and how he had become her protector and friend.  She also admitted her wrong judgment of the boy.  And although Miss Hardy thanked Jacob for that unforgettable day, Jacob was most thankful for the unforgettable forgiveness and confidence he received from his hero, his mother.