We have a saying in our culture, “What goes around comes around.” To me, the Bible has a clearer meaning of this in what is known as the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12, NIV). The story I want to share is one of the most profound examples of this.

One of our James Project of Latin American employees got on the bus in her village one afternoon. Living in an area notorious for its violence and drugs, this woman always used caution. Seeing bad things happen around her was a part of her existence, but with prayer and trust in God, she lived her life in the manner available to her.

After boarding the bus for a trip to Guatemala City, she found herself surrounded by several young men. She saw the signs and knew their violent intentions. They moved her off the bus to a secluded area from the bus route. One man took a knife and slit the front of her shirt open from top to bottom. Overcome with panic, Debra* pleaded with the young men, “Please, just kill me.” She had seen suffering and violent behavior in such situations and concluded she just wanted to go Home to her heavenly Father.

Suddenly, one of the young men went up to her and asked, “Are you Miguel’s* wife?” Unable to speak, Debra shook her head yes. “Don’t touch her,” the man said. “When I went to church, her husband was the only man to show me love and respect. I can’t allow this to happen to his wife when he did so many things for me.” His companions released Debra and left her dazed and shook, but physically unharmed.

Debra didn’t know the impact of her testimony to my heart, for it helped me realize how important our daily interactions are with others. Her husband’s relationship with the young man turned the events in Debra’s situation so that her life was spared. He represented a credible witness of the Lord Jesus Christ to this teenager, not knowing the results of his love.

I want to be this type of witness to the people I relate to each day. The rule is basic. I just need to follow my heart with the love of the Lord in my response to others. I’m learning more about trusting the Lord to guide me in my daily actions so that I “will do to others what I want them to do to me.” I wish I could say that I never mess up, but when that happens, I confess the error, get turned in the right direction, and move forward. What a difference life would be if we made the Golden Rule one of our main goals in life.