My credit card’s unexpected love adventure

Just the other day, I got a voicemail from my credit card company saying there may have been some fraudulent activity with my credit card. The voicemail also included a phone number I could reach the company on. However, my first instinct was that the call was a scam because the number they provided in the voicemail didn’t match the customer service number at the back of my card. Anyway, just in case it was a genuine call, I tried to call the company with the more authentic number. I was put on hold, waiting to speak with an agent for over 35 minutes but soon gave it up because I had to jump on another call. I soon forgot about it.

Two days later, I became convinced that it was probably not a scam call when I received an email from my credit card company highlighting 3 transactions on my card that they considered fraudulent. Since I didn’t recognize those transactions, my heart skipped a beat. Then, as fast as I could, I logged into my credit card account to see what was actually going on. A whole lot had been going on!

For over eight days, my credit card had been on an adventure with a certain unnamed individual, who was having the time of their life indulging in some big-ticket items and probably growing fat on a lot of fast food. In just one week, they had wiped out almost $2,000! I was beyond flabbergasted. I promptly locked my card.

Without wasting time, I got on the phone with the credit card company and this time, I was prepared to be kept on hold for 24 hours if that’s what it took. Thankfully, I was on hold for about one hour before I was able to speak with an agent. Another 30 mins later, the credit card company had agreed to reverse the fraudulent transactions and had prepared another card for me that is en route by mail. I also activated a system to notify me immediately any transaction was made on my card in the future.

This was my first experience with credit card fraud and it was most horrific, to say the least. However, what was more surprising to me, even before I called the credit card company to sort out the issue, was the fact that I took some time to pray for the mischievous thief. I felt sorry for them. I really did. I did so because at that moment my mind switched to “eternal mode”. I wondered – if the world ended in that instant, my credit card saga would be a non-issue but the soul of this fellow may probably be lost forever! Although I didn’t know them, I felt compassion and asked God to restore their soul.

Then, my mind went to Jesus’ teachings about loving our enemies, overcoming evil with good, blessing those who curse us, and praying for those who abuse us (Luke 6:27-28, Rom 12:21). I thought “What if, among other things, God allowed this incident to happen just so that I could pray for this person?” Maybe or maybe not.

Nevertheless, I know that the act of praying for this fellow calmed me down enough so that my stress response was not activated, which could have led to other negative sentiments and emotions. I realized in that second that Jesus teaches us to love others (friends, enemies, and frenemies) not only because it brings healing to them and is evidence that we truly love him but more so, his teachings are designed to do us good, including protecting our mental and physical health. Irrespective of how others treat us, Jesus wants us to love them with gentleness, patience, kindness, humility, honor, and not being boastful, envious, self-seeking, and easily angered with them (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

And that was how my credit card found itself not only on an online shopping spree adventure but also part of the adventure of loving a stranger through my praying for their healing.

So, as you go into this new week, how do you plan to respond to the people who consistently rub you off the wrong way? Studies show that promoting good and positive social relationships while avoiding toxic and stressful ones can significantly benefit your health and enhance your quality of life both in the short and long term¹.

You can choose to be full of rage, anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness or you can choose to love them and keep walking your way to optimal health. The ball is in your court.

Have a great week!

References:

1. Relationships and your health

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