Applied Scripture

Winnipeg woman gives eggnog and ginger snaps to burglar

On that cold winter day, her back door was swinging wide open, her belongings from her basement were scattered in her upstairs kitchen and an old jacket she owned was outside in the snow.

Ross panicked, called her neighbours, the church across the street and 911.

“I was freaking out. My heart rate like soared and my Fitbit had tracked it so I later saw … that my heart rate went up to like 158 and I was terrified.”She would soon become even more scared when a young woman showed up at her backdoor; it was the burglar, who was wearing Ross’s jacket, sweater and watch. The first thing she did was take a picture of her and ask “Are you going to hurt me?”

Ross asked her if there was someone else in her home and the burglar said “no.” She explained she had broken in through Ross’s basement window and now come back because she forgot her phone and keys inside.

The burglar, a 17-year-old girl, said she was sorry and the two leaned in for a hug and then Ross invited her to sit down at her kitchen table.

A look at Leah Ross’s heart rate on her Fitbit shows the spike that happened when she discovered the break-in at her home. (Submitted by Leah Ross)

She didn’t have any food in the house so she gave the young woman what she did have left — eggnog and gingersnaps.

Then her doorbell rang when the pastor from across the street arrived.

“I said, ‘Pastor Kim the burglar is in the kitchen’ and she was like ‘what?'”

“I was afraid because I didn’t know that the burglar was a young woman,” Pastor Kim Stoesz said about the encounter.

But when Stoesz went into the kitchen she realized there was more to the break-in.

“I could see that it was just a sad situation,” she said.

Winnipeg police arrived sometime shortly after which put Ross, who lives alone, at ease.

“They went through the house and they cleared it for me which was nice,” she said adding she was still a bit worried someone else might be lurking in her home.

A police detective asked if Ross wanted to press charges and she said “no.” The former lawyer said that wouldn’t be in the child’s best interest and that’s what had to prevail.

“The officer said in all her years … she had never walked in on a victim … serving their intruder like eggnog and gingersnaps,” Ross said.

Click the link above to see the rest of the story.  The two have become friends.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Mt 5:38–41).

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Ro 12:19–21).