Proverbs 23:13 says, “Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die” (KJV).
Kalu is a 10-year-old boy. No one in his village likes him, mainly for two reasons. The first is that he steals from people. He steals fruits, vegetables, clothes, rice, and many other things. So people call him “Thief Kalu.” Secondly, his appearance is peculiar. His teeth are not good because he does not brush them, and his clothes are so dirty that if you touch them, your hand will be dirty. He never combs his hair. So no one liked him. Once he came to our garden and picked guava. We watched him. My husband went out another way and waited at the path; when Kalu passed, my husband asked him what he had in the bag. Kalu wouldn’t answer. My husband said, “Come with me to our house; my wife wants to see you.” Kalu came with my husband. I opened the bag and found guavas.
I talked to Kalu and explained to him why he should not steal. God said in the Ten Commandments that we should not steal. I asked him why he stole things. Kalu replied, “My mother tells me to steal. And if I do not steal, my mother beats me and does not give me any food.”
Being a shepherdess, I seized this opportunity. I invited Kalu and his mother to our house the following day for lunch. They came and I talked to the mother and asked her to send Kalu to school. My husband paid his school fees and bought his school supplies. So Kalu started coming to school. He did not have much time to steal. But then he stole again. I called him. He apologized and promised he would never steal again. I told him, “Your name should be changed if you are really changed.” He agreed. I named him Mithue.
In 2005 Mithue went to an Adventist boarding school. Now he does not steal. I hope after going to school, he will be baptized. Maybe one day we will be blessed by Mithue. I prayed for Mithue, and miraculously Kalu has changed to Mithue. Pray for a bright future for Mithue.
