“Brady” was a familiar name in our house.
My daughter Samantha had complained about his teasing for months. According to her, Brady was the biggest troublemaker in the classroom. He had even been suspended a few times. Both of Brady's parents were deployed in the military, leaving various relatives to shift Brady from house to house.
According to Samantha, he had no friends and didn't deserve any.
Every time she complained about him, I would say, “He needs a friend. He wouldn't be so unkind if he had a friend to play with him.”
And each time, she replied, "I'll never be his friend."
“If you don't want to be his friend, then pray for him,” I said, ending each conversation.
And each time we repeated this exchange, I said a silent prayer: Lord, please send Brady a friend he can keep. Amen.
One day, Samantha stepped off the school bus and presented me with a perfectly folded lime green crane. She had struggled with making paper cranes for a week. Her trash can held a pile of multi-colored paper squares, crumpled in frustration.
“Brady showed me how to make these at recess.” She handed me the crane proudly. “And he didn't make fun of me at all today.”
After homework, she spent the evening cutting paper squares for her new friend Brady.
Friendship is a gift from the Lord. He designed all of us to need each other and to love each other as Jesus loves us. Just as Jesus lay down his life for His friends, He calls us to do the same. This is the greatest love.
Everyone needs a friend. Perhaps the lady who sits alone at church or in the cafeteria at work. Or the widower next door who might enjoy an invite for coffee. Make time for these new friends in your life.
Ask God to help you love others as He loves you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Gina Napoli lives in Harrisburg, PA, and is author of Clunk on the Head: How the Holy Spirit Got Our Attention. She has also been published in Highlights for Children, Pockets, Guardian Angel Kids, Hopscotch, and Humpty Dumpty. She publishes articles regularly in two regional publications: The Burg and Business Woman. She also publishes in the state-wide online magazine, Keystone Edge. Her writing is featured in two book anthologies: A Community of Writers and Bitter Sweet. Two hundred of her pieces appear in almost sixty different print and electronic media venues.