One day, while I was waiting after school for the bus, a classmate started to tease me. He mocked the way I danced and the way I dressed. Years later, I still remember that incident; but what stands out the most isn’t what the bully said. It’s what happened next: Another classmate, a quiet guy, told the bully to stop teasing me. His simple act shut up the bully and gave me a new friend.

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
Psalm 41:1 (NIV)

I still think of him as a hero. He didn’t have to stand up for me; he didn’t have to get involved. I don’t know if he was a Christian, but he blessed me more than he knows. My attacker made me feel small, but the classmate who defended me reminded me that God loves me.

I wish I could say that I followed his lead and stood up for other classmates who were being teased and bullied, but I was often too afraid to speak up. Looking back over my school experiences, that is one of my biggest regrets.

ACT ON IT: Bullying will continue unless ordinary people make it their mission to stop it. Take a stand against bullying. When you stand up for those who are being hurt, you too will be a hero.