Lost a Few Friends and Earned Innumerable Brothers & Sisters
And anyone who has left brothers and sisters for my sake will receive a hundred times as much – Mt 19:29 (NIV)”
Many neighbours, friends and relatives came to see Karthi. I did not know how the news about our imbibing Christianity and the miracle life saving of Karthi by Jesus Christ has spread, many Christian brothers and sisters from various places and many Pastors from nearby Churches visited us. After hearing my testimony, they would praise the Lord and then pray to the Lord for the complete healing of Karthi. Regular loud Christian prayers and songs of joy were heard from our house. This raised the curiosity of many people to know as to what had happened to us, a strong and staunch Hindu
S. THAYAPPAN 63 family & devotees of Adhi Parasakthi to imbibe Christianity. A few dared asking me directly on my face but many talked behind me and gossiped. “Thayappan is a hard nut to crack. He is a slippery fellow. He knows how to escape such situations. More over his aversion to Christianity was well known and open. I don’t believe the story that he has simply accepted Jesus just like that because of Karthi’s sickness alone. He might have taken at least two lakhs rupees (equivalent of $4000) for every member of his family to become a Christian. I know very well about him”. A few believed this gossip and a few refuted it. When I came to know about this senseless talk, I could only laugh at their mean, ridiculous materialistic thinking. Then I told a story to every one who came to my house to see Karthi.
I had a close friend named Sakthivel known to me since childhood. I was so much attached to him and was ready to do anything for him. I loved him so much, I never allowed anyone to criticize him or to talk ill about him. I felt proud to be a friend of him. He is from a well to do family. I strongly believed that he also loved me and reciprocated the same love and friendship. We grew up and our love and affection also grew. Even after our marriages, we were inseparable. One day my son fell sick and his condition became very serious. The doctors advised for an immediate admission to the ICU to have round the clock observation and treatment which cost me heavily. I needed money. I tried for loan from my colleagues and a few known friends. Since the amount was heavy, they hesitated. Finally I approached my thick friend Sakthivel. I know he had enough spare money to give. But he did not give despite my asking him and knowing fully well about the serious condition of my son. He came out with so many lame excuses for his inability to give the money. I was in a fix and helpless condition. I could not digest and believe my close friend refusing to give the money to me especially at that critical moment. I was down in my spirit and was trying to swallow the bitterness of the fact of life.
At that time, somebody rang up the calling bell. I opened the door and was surprised to see Alexander standing at my door step. Alexander lived about a few houses away from my house. Somehow I had developed a sort of hatred towards him without any base or reasons. I despised him for no valid reasons. I had no personal contact, enmity or altercations with him. None has told me anything bad about him. Yet I disliked him and turned my face the other side to avoid seeing his face whenever we had to cross each other on the road. My hatred and avoiding him used to be very apparent and open in the air. I used to think that no Christian should be allowed to reside among us. They should be pooled together and kept separately in a colony away from our inhabitants. I thought they were low class people, untouchables, unfit to live among us. I had never spoken a word to Alexander so far in so many years and I was so surprised to see him standing at my door step. He greeted me and before I could say anything, he caught my hand and thrust a bundle of currencies saying “I heard that your son is serious and you need money. Please take this and give the treatment to your son. My entire family has been praying for his healing and we will continue to pray for him. Don’t worry. He will be alright. God is great. Believe in Him. He will help you.” His eyes were sparkling with tears and then he left abruptly even without waiting for me to thank him. I was bewildered and shocked on seeing his compassion, helping tendency even without my asking, his nobility, simplicity and his care, concern, sincerity to pray for my son. Further he had not reflected or kept in mind any ill feelings about my earlier behaviour. It was a blow to me. My unfounded hatred and all the wrong conceptions I had against him so far vanished like a mist in the sun light. He stood tall in my image and I felt so small and belittled in front of him.
Now tell me whom do I call a true friend? Sakthivel whom I had thought was my best and only friend in the last 58 years? Or Mr. Alexander whom I had despised for no reason at all? This is only a story but this is what has really happened in my life now. The
S. THAYAPPAN 65 idols whom I had worshipped wholeheartedly till now in my life had not helped my son in time of my need and sickness of my son. But Jesus Christ who had been hated, saved my son from death. After hearing what I had said, there would be no answer from any of them. They would simply nod their head in agreement. Then I would tell them the various miracles done by Jesus Christ in our life and in others’ life. I would also tell them the various testimonies given by many in the church. Their face would show their old faith shaken. The seed of faith and the word of God are sown now in them. I pray to the Lord for their growth and harvest. To all those who come to my house, I talk only about Jesus and his abundant love and nothing else. I could not think or talk anything else other than Jesus. I am full of Jesus, filled fully by His love and grace to the brim. Due to this, a few of my old friends avoid coming to my house. I lost many of my old friends but earned many new friends who are more concerned about me and my family and they are more than my blood brothers and sisters.