As kids we were taught never to start a fight; but if someone started a fight with us, we were supposed to finish it. I think that is some kind of rule in Irish families.

I was patient and slow to anger; but if someone got me riled, I would just beat him or her up and be done with it. Most of my fights were defending someone else. I could not stand to see anyone mistreated.

When I turned 16, Rev. Page Patterson held a youth revival at our church. He was just finishing seminary in Fort Worth, in his early twenties, good looking, striking red hair and most of us girls had a crush on him.

The last night of the revival he preached on turning the other cheek. His sermon hit home and I decided to quit fighting.

We rode the school bus to school. Pat (age 17, 120 lbs.), Cecelia (age 12, 65 lbs.) & I (age 16, 79 lbs.) shared assigned seats. We rotated sitting by the window.

The very next day (after the sermon) I was tempted to fight. It was Cecelia's turn to sit by the window, me in the middle and Pat on the isle. Pat decided she was going to sit by the window. Cecelia said no and I decided Pat should wait her turn.

Pat told Cecelia she would beat her up if she didn't move. I told Pat she would have to go through me first. Pat said ok and slapped me hard on the right cheek. I told her I would not fight with her, nor would I move. She slapped me hard on the left cheek. I told her I would not fight with her, nor would I move. She grabbed me and tried to pull me out of the seat. I was amazed; it was as though I was glued to the seat. She couldn't move me. Pat sat down in the floor of the bus and cried. I had won without fighting.

When I got home Mom was waiting for me. Some of my friends had called her mad as a hornet because I hadn't beat Pat up. I told Mom what happened. She hugged me and told me she was proud of me.

Pat and I got along fine after that. Some of my friends were aggravated because I forgave her. It took a while for them to get used to me not fighting.

I found a new way: don't give in no matter what, let God take care of the convincing and say out loud, "God, do you see what they are doing? Take care of them for me." Whoever was confronting me would get a look of horror on their face and back off.

Mat 5:38 - 39 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But who-ever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Rom 12:19 - 21 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Background Buna High School picture 1959, school bus from product CD/Print Shop 6.0