Pictured next to that massive elephant is my cousin, Charlotte aka "Char-Lee". Growing up, she was the only one I really had to talk to.Times seemed consistently hard for me through childhood, and many times it was unknown who my "real" friends were. Char-Lee always made time for me despite the nine year age difference between us. She would put off plans with her own friends to kidnap me for a day out at the movies, time at the park to fly kites or toss a frisbee around, ride bikes anywhere and everywhere, play time on her Atari, or even to just sit and talk about anything my heart desired. She was beautiful, inside and out. I loved her dearly.
Char-Lee worked for Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. She had a passion for animals, and was working hard at her degree in Zoology. When I was 14 years old, I received a phone call from my Aunt while my parents were out, to learn that I would never see Char-Lee again.
Just before a public elephant show at the zoo, an elephant turned on her, and did damage that took her life, and her last concerns expressed to the care flight paramedics were for them to make sure the elephant wasn't destroyed for what it did to her.
At the time of her death I was distraught... especially being at an age that our talks, along with her friendship and love, were so needed and important in my life. I wanted that elephant destroyed for taking something so precious from me.
Looking at what happened now, I gain a valuable lesson from Char-Lee's last moments.
Look at how huge that elephant is compared to Char-Lee in the photo. It was a massive, strong, and obviously a potentially dangerous creature... yet Char-Lee stands beside it, a smile on her face, looking as though she were outside playing with a puppy-sized pet.
How many times do our problems, circumstances and trials seem to stack up so tall against us? When we view them they look gigantic and overwhelming, seemingly desiring to stir fear up inside of us. At times we even have people come against us. They appear to bring on a force so strong that we feel as though we will buckle under their pressure at any given moment. Rumors, lies, condemnation, hate, strife, jealousy, judgement, evil, mockery... people are out there that strive on such things.
So do we tremble in fear, avoiding them as often as possible? Or do we stand tall next to the problems or people in question, a smile on our face, knowing that greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)!
Despite the life taking injuries Char-Lee endured, she wanted no retaliation taken.
When our feelings are hurt, our families attacked, our possessions are stolen, or we are taken advantage of... what is our response? Do we attack back? Do we get even? Do we make it known of every little thing we think on the situation? Do we contact everyone we know to "set things straight"?
Or... do we pray the Lord blesses the person in return?
Here's what God's word instructs us to do:
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
(Luke 6:27-30)
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
(Romans 12:14)
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
(Romans 12:19)
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:21)
Revenge is not the answer. Our answer is found in love. So many times it is difficult to respond to situations with the charity of the Lord, but what result do we receive from getting back, getting even, and returning hate for hate... besides more to repent for and a hardened heart?
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
I'm thankful for the life lesson I receive from this picture of Char-Lee and the remembrance of her heart of love. The moral is so very significant. There is still to this day a memorial for her at the Lowry Park Zoo, and according to her wishes, the elephant was not destroyed.
