Nick Vujicic, Limbless Evangelist, Tells Teens to 'Stand Strong' in Face of Bullying in New Book
So we try bringing the fact that first of all, you might think you're just having fun but you don't know how deep your words can go. Why don't you just do something else? You know in elementary school, we all say, "If you don't' have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." In high school we should say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, shut your mouth." So that's what I'm telling high schools all around the world.
If we ever wanted to make a difference in our life...if we didn't do better than yesterday, then why do we think we're going to do better tomorrow than today? So we really need to set a mark in understanding that first of all, if you're a victim you're not alone, don't give up, don't worry about what other people say, try standing up for yourself. Sometimes you need to be a true friend to get a true friend. Once we know the truth of our value, that's not determined by other people around us, that's when you can have that peace and fulfillment in yourself. You're gonna get through it, like I did. I got through it, and I think anyone can if they just stick to the truth one day at a time. And pray for those people, right (bullies)? They're the ones that have some issues.
CP: What about victims of bullying facing the temptation to become bullies themselves?
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Vujicic: Hurting people hurt others, but that's no excuse. If your dad is abusing you because his dad abused him, how is that any good, anywhere at any time? It's not. We need to be that change in the generations that understand that, "Yes, I am hurting or I am being controlled but controlling someone else's feelings that sort of makes me feel back in control." It's a false state of security. It's a false state of happiness and control. A lot of us are scared on the inside, and so we try to control the things we can change but not realize the effects of that. It's not the answer anyway. If you're hurting people because you're hurting, that's no excuse. Know that God is there to help you, and to see a change in the world we need to be that change.
CP: Faith in God is what helped you overcome bullying and deal the challenges you face. How do you deliver that message when you travel, especially to those who don't share your religious outlook?
Vujicic: It depends on which crowd and where I'm at, but I always talk about faith, love and hope. The greatest hope is knowing that I'm not going to die, I'm going to live forever and my arms and legs are up there (heaven). I have a pair of shoes in my closet in case He says yes to me. I've seen blind people seeing, deaf people hearing, lame people walk. I've seen that stuff which is really cool. What I do know is that even if God doesn't give me arms and legs here on earth, I don't need them.
I don't need a physical body that's healed. Even if I'm dying of cancer. If I don't die of cancer, I'll die in a car crash. If I don't die in a car crash, I'll die some other way. Either way, I'm a citizen of heaven passing through. The reason I have a positive attitude is because I'm healed. I'm healed to a point that I don't need stuff. I need peace, I need purpose, I need forgiveness of my sins. I'm not a person to say that all paths lead to heaven, because how good is good and how bad is bad?
Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life." Knowing that I'm now going to be living forever, the fruit of that is a positive attitude. Now does that mean that I don't cry? No, I still cry. I still have my ups and downs. But with faith, I remind myself of the promises, knowing that I can stand strong in the truth. The truth that I'm not a mistake. The truth that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. The truth that everyone is valuable just the way we are.
A preview of Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down):
