Optimist's medal for most tolerant personality

A woman picked a street boy and brought him into her home. She raised him like her own; took him to good schools and gave him all the good things that money could buy. The more the boy grew, the more she loved him no matter his imperfections and idiosyncrasies.

A woman with former street children. All we need is love with patience

But the boy did not appreciate the unfettered kindness of his guardian. He got into trouble with school authorities and gained notoriety as an unrepentant provocateur who fought everybody everywhere. The poor woman was advised to send him back to the streets. She wanted to yet something deep inside convinced her otherwise. Every time the boy got expelled from a school, she would get him an even better school.

When the boy entered pubescent stage, his hormones and demons raged like never before. One evening during the holiday, his guardian returned from work early and caught him seducing his daughter for sex. It was the greatest provocation to banish him back to the streets. Instead, she locked herself in her room and cried a river. Then she prayed. When she got up from her knees, she decided to give the boy another chance.

The two talked like mother to son. She poured out her heart; told him he was now family; a 'big brother' to her three daughters, and having carnal knowledge
of them was the worst ignominy. Told him, she saw in him something that the world did not.

"I've a lot of faith in you to grow into a leader who will return to the streets to spark something in those boys to become responsible citizens," she said. "And I know you will not disappoint me."

For the first time, the ex-street boy shed his hard skin and broke down like a little girl. After wiping his tears, he told his guardian two words: "Thank you."

That was the beginning of his metamorphosis from Saul to Paul. He stopped fighting, was never expelled from school again and started excelling in class. Today, he is at Makerere University pursuing a law degree only because one woman understood and tolerated him with amazing love and patience.

Saturday (November 16) was International Tolerance Day, and the heroine of this story wins the Optimist's medal for most tolerant personality. We all have foibles, and if we learn to love with patience those who need love, it will make all the difference.