It's Just a Bike

Life has a way of keeping us humble, doesn’t it? Yesterday, I found myself in a situation I never thought would happen to me, I got scammed. For the first time ever, I fell victim to someone’s dishonest scheme.

It all started on a local Facebook page where people in the community stay connected. A person calling themselves "Renee Whitney Thompson" was selling several items, including a shed. I need a shed. I messaged her; she and her husband are downsizing, we negotiated, and she sweetly asked if I would put a deposit down so they could take down the listing. Sure, I will. After all, she will give it back to me tomorrow if I don’t like it when I see it. I liked what I saw and the price was good.

But, pretty quickly, something did not feel right. She said her husband had multiple full price offers and would I just pay the rest of the amount. My heart began to sink. I had a knot in my stomach start to form.

I declined the offer to pay anymore without seeing it. She came back that they were trustworthy and on and on. The more seconds that ticked by the more I knew, I was in trouble.

I told her I would like my deposit refunded immediately. That is when the listing disappeared, the person stopped replying, and then they blocked me on Messenger. It hit me hard, and I realized I had been duped.

I reached out to PayPal and my bank to report the fraud. I updated my passwords and security questions just to be safe. I also posted in the Facebook group to find help and/or help others avoid falling into the same trap. The support from the community was amazing, with so many people sharing kind words.

As I sat with my frustration last night, I remembered a story from many years ago that helped put things into perspective.

In 1999, we moved from the country into town. My youngest son Larry, just 11 years old at the time, had a bike he absolutely loved, and he locked it securely to a post in our carport.

One morning, we found that someone had cut the lock and stolen my boy’s bike. I was devastated for him; I was angry. But Larry’s reaction was something I will never forget. He said, “Maybe they needed it more than I do.”

At just 11, Larry’s words were full of wisdom and compassion. He did not get angry or upset; instead, he chose to look at it with empathy and grace, at 11 years old! That moment reminds me to look beyond my own hurt and understand that others may be going through struggles of their own.

As I reflected on Larry’s response, I decided to follow his lead. Last night, I said a prayer for the person who scammed me. It was not easy, my first reaction was frustration and disbelief, but I knew holding onto anger would not help. Maybe, like the person who stole Larry’s bike, they felt they needed the money more than I did. It does not make it right, but it helped me let go of a bit of bitterness.

It is so easy to get stuck in feelings of betrayal and loss, but what if we chose to respond with understanding, like Larry did? What if we used these experiences to grow in compassion and resilience instead of letting them harden our hearts?

Romans 12:21 reminds us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

As I wait for updates from PayPal and my bank, I am reminded that life has its ups and downs. What matters most is how we respond. Larry still inspires me, and I am grateful to have learned that lesson from him all those years ago.

To anyone who has or is going through something similar, know this: scams and losses may shake us, but they do not define us. What defines us is how we rise above, learn from the experience, and respond with grace, even when we feel it is undeserved.

And Larry, thank you for teaching me what it really means to see the world with empathy. It is a lesson I will carry with me for life.

by Jeanette Stark – Friday, January 24, 2025