By Mary Hill
It was just an old ten speed bike that I bought for $50. I purchased a chain lock for it. My college campus spread over two miles and getting around was difficult.
I found this nice bike and felt blessed. Going back and forth to classes, work, and even grocery shopping became easier.
During the summer, I stayed at school to work for our campus paper, The Gamecock, as the news editor. I had three jobs so my bike served me well even at night when I rode home from my job as a waitress at Pizza Hut. It wasn’t fancy or extravagant, but it helped me tremendously.
Imagine the sinking feeling that I got one morning when I rode the elevator down to the parking garage and looked at the bike rack full of fancy mountain bikes and sports bikes probably worth three weeks of my salary. My humble $50 bike’s absence shocked me. Why would someone bypass those more expensive bikes for mine?
I called the police and it took them to the next day to come get a report. A $50 bike didn’t rank on their scale of serious crimes that happened every day in Columbia, SC. (Not putting them down. I know the life of police officers is dangerous. I appreciate police officers everywhere.)
I never forgot that morning. I know it was a Thursday, and I had to be at the fudge shop by 10 a.m. to work until five. I went to work at Pizza Hut at seven that evening. I hoped to get in by 9 a.m. to work on news stories. None of that mattered, I started walking again.
Life has its ups and downs. The loss of my $50 bike does not even compare to some of the things I faced. I don’t know why it still lingers in my mind; other than it was a loss of convenience. Maybe it was because I still to this day do not understand why anyone would steal someone’s humble bike that they probably would not have gotten $50 for it?
Blessings are priceless. God loves and lives in us. I guess He felt the other person needed it more than me. I pray that that person finds him today.
I love your positive attitude and sweet spirit.
Mary – No one knows that goes through the mind of some people. I often wonder what people think when they choose to rob someone of their property. It could be a small thing or as in your case your bicycle. 🙂
It is sad when our stuff is stolen. Especially when it is needed stuff. Your good attitude shines through. BTW I live in Columbia. 🙂
So sorry someone took that bicycle. Some people steal for kicks and it’s awful.
Mary – The hardest part of this is feeling violated. I know my car go broken into one time and some little stuff was taken. It was not the fact that I lost the stuff but the fact that someone else violated my space.
I know what you mean too. Stuff can be replaced but the feeling that someone can take and you do nothing about it or can’t stop it is hard to deal with. Thanks for your support and comments.
Hola!
You are an amazing writer. Sorry about your bike. Thanks for stopping by mine and for the kinds words.
~SimplyyMayra of
PonderWonders @ http://www.simplyymayra.com
This story made me so sad for you at that age, trying hard to do all the right things and cover all the bases, and then to have your mode of transportation stolen, with so many other bikes to chose from. It so often seems this way, that the ones who “pay” are the ones who can scarcely afford to, like when our government steals budget money from social security and disability programs. I applaud your grace in hoping that the thief learned the error of his/her ways and in some way made reparation to the future. You proved that you could not be defeated by one stolen bike, you didn’t use that as your excuse to give up, and for that I applaud you and cheer madly… a survivor who has gone far and been a blessing to many! 🙂 Thank you for sharing such an interesting and personal story with us at Two Shoes Tuesday, I appreciated it very much!
Thank you.
So sorry about your bike, and I wonder how people can be so mean! We have had a break in several times at different houses, and things stolen. It caused anger and it was difficult to forgive and let it go. Thank you for visiting my post and for your sweet comments. May I invite you to share at my True Story blog party Tell Me a True Story
http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Sounds great. I will have to go look the site up now. Thank you.
You are a very forgiving soul and its a wonderful thing…I remember when my bike was stolen and then my car for a second and third time…each time it was like a sting in a sensitive spot…its not about the theft to me it was about someone not caring enough about how another might feel to lose something they need…not just want…if that was the case I would begrudge nothing… I really felt my feelings were hurt more than anything…you helped with that today…thank you!
I really liked tis story, Mary. You may be right, perhaps the person needed it. I do hope that somehow they paid it forward, realizing what they did was wrong. Peace.
I like that idea too. Maybe they learned and paid it forward. Another personal prayer for that unknown person tonight.
I’m sure the person who stole it did it for gain and nothing more. What a well written post too.
Have a terrific day. ☺