I don't want anyone to be victimized! And I don't want to be victimized! My deep feelings on this subject go back to a time when my husband and I were starting a tennis business. We had scraped together all the money we could and had just enough to be able to open our business. Each item of merchandise represented a financial sacrifice.
On opening day, business was quiet until a nearby school let out. Then about fifteen teenage boys came in together. At the time, I thought they were potential customers, curious to explore a new sports shop. So I chatted with them and answered their questions. There were so many of them, and they were all over the store. It wasn't until after they left that I realized a significant portion of our merchandise was missing. The boys had shoplifted it!
I was so hurt, and incensed at the injustice of the situation. The injustice didn't stop there, either. We didn't have any more gang problems; yet that incident turned out to be the least serious in a series of victimizations that went on for nearly the next two years. As each situation came up, my husband and I prayed as we had been taught to do through our study of Christian Science, and that particular problem would be solved.
