Shalom beloveds
It’s been roughly 30 years since starting grade 1. I was excited at the prospect of learning more and meeting new friends. But oh, what awaited me was disappointment and heartache. The children at this school, didn’t want to be my friend. I sat there during my first interval (recess) looking at all of them running around, playing and grouping up with other children. Then an older learner approached me with another girl who had the same heartache and disappointment in her eyes that I had. The older learner said “she doesn’t have friends either, will you be her friend?” I agreed and we became friends. I had not even noticed that she was also in my grade 1 class. I was looking for friendship with other children and all along another girl was content with having none, because she had known rejection longer than I could have known. All the children at this Primary school either bullied, ridiculed, insulted us and/or looked down at us. This sparked the first time of disliking the playground and even class itself, so much so that I grew numb to their attacks. Myself and this friend created our own imaginary world and made a space for us under a little tree, that resembled a hanging roof, at the far end of the playground- away from the other children. We were happy and safe during each break time because we had a space to call our own, eat our lunch in peace and be ourselves freely. We thrived in this space for about 6 years before I moved to another town. This past week I encountered these bullies again in adult form, and they have not changed. They are still the mean kids they were back then, and this time they are doing the bullying online as well. I came to the realisation that long after the last school bell has rung, the bullies will still try to intimidate, harass and scare you. But this is where you need to take a stand and say “Enough! Enough with the abuse and control, enough”. It’s taken me some time, but I was finally able to say “No! That’s enough and it stops now”. If you’re not speaking up for yourself or against the injustices of others, regardless of the masses, then you’re part of the problem.
You are safe and free now, little Adine.
Thank you for reading, till next time…
Peace and blessings in Yeshua!
