Reflecting on Life’s Pain

As I was riding a boat from our place going to my workplace, I happened to overhear a conversation of two ladies sitting behind me.  

“I was hurt, but I have to give way.  I need to sacrifice because one innocent life is involved,” a 25-year old woman said to her friend.

“What happened?”  her friend asked.

“My boyfriend and I quarreled over a trivial matter and we haven’t talked for almost a month.  Then, one time he came to me and confessed that he impregnated a girl whom he had known for less than a month.”

I really cried upon hearing what he said. Teary-eyed, he was begging me  to come back to him and marry him.  He said that he never loved the girl and it was I whom he really loved. But  then I said to him, “No, you should go back to the girl.  I don’t want to carry the guilt of depriving a baby of a father because of my selfishness.”

“How long have you been together as boyfriend/girlfriend?”

“We have been together for 5 years.  What a waste! But I can sacrifice this relationship and my love for my boyfriend because of an innocent baby.”

“How old is the girl?”

“She’s 20 years old, and my boyfriend is 24. If only I could turn back the hands of time but I can’t.  Though I love him so much, but because I am a Christian and a teacher at that, I have to give in. I am ready to let go of the man I love for the sake of an innocent soul.”

Listening to their conversation, I sympathized with the woman.  Yet, I also felt quite happy knowing that there are still people like her who think of the good of others rather than hers.  I do hope that her courage to let go of her beloved for the sake of others will be the same courage that we can all have -the willingness to let go of something very significant for us no matter how painful it is just to make others happy.  If we can all do such a heroic gesture, what a peaceful world we could have!