Tina thought she had found her happily ever after when she eloped with her high school sweetheart, Richard, at 18. Coming from a wealthy family, Richard seemed like the perfect match, and Tina was thrilled to be with the man she loved, even though their marriage wasn’t the traditional white wedding she had dreamed of. However, everything changed when she discovered she was pregnant.
Excited to share the news, Tina was shocked by Richard’s cold reaction. Instead of joy, he became furious, accusing her of ruining his plans for freedom from his family. The next day, Richard, intoxicated and angry, kicked her out of their apartment, and Tina found herself homeless. When she reached out to Richard’s parents for support, they accused her of cheating, believing the lies Richard had spread.
Realizing she was truly on her own, Tina dedicated herself to raising her son, Greg. Despite the challenges, Greg turned out to be a hardworking, kind, and responsible young man. He started working as a caddy at 15 to help his mother make ends meet. Although life was tough, Greg’s strong work ethic and dedication paid off when he graduated from high school and successfully launched his own business. By 26, Greg had become one of the wealthiest young people in his city, all thanks to the values instilled in him by Tina.
However, Greg harbored a deep resentment toward his estranged father. Tina had always been honest with Greg about what had happened between her and Richard, and over time, Greg became determined to track his father down. One day, after years of quietly searching, Greg found Richard.
Armed with a baseball bat, Greg drove to Richard’s home, full of anger and ready to confront him. But as he sat in his car, contemplating revenge, Greg saw Richard for the first time in years—frail, impoverished, and struggling to take out the trash. The sight of his once-powerful father, now reduced to such a state, made Greg pause. In that moment, he realized that revenge would only lead to his own downfall.
Greg noticed a “for sale” sign on Richard’s property and learned that the house was being repossessed to cover Richard’s debts. Instead of seeking vengeance, Greg chose a different path. He bought the house and arranged to meet Richard at the estate agent’s office. When Richard arrived, he was shocked to see Tina and Greg waiting for him.
With no need for violence, Greg informed Richard of who he was and calmly told him to vacate the property, echoing the same words Richard had used to throw Tina out years before: “If I see you again, we’ll have a problem.”
As Richard left in shame, Tina watched, realizing how life had come full circle. Greg had shown incredible maturity by not letting his anger dictate his actions, and they both walked away from the situation with their dignity intact.
Lessons from this story:
How we treat others will eventually come back to us, as Richard’s mistreatment of Tina led to his eventual downfall.
The urge for revenge can be destructive. By choosing compassion and self-restraint, Greg avoided a path that could have cost him everything.