“Time to go!” Mom called up the stairs to the girls. Twelve-year-old Angela sighed and picked up her black and white striped backpack. They were going on a trip to Ohio. Their family was planning to move to Ohio, and they wanted to visit the church that they planned to attend there.
“What are you thinking Angela?” asked her older sister Susanne. They had been driving for a few hours and almost everyone else was sleeping.
“I’m not sure,” admitted Angela. “I think that I’m excited, but I’m also sad about leaving my friends at home.”
“Don’t worry,” said Susanne. “I wrote to one of the girls from the church there and she said there are quite a few girls your age. I’m sure you’ll find friends pretty fast.”
Angela nodded and yawned. “I’m sure you’re right,” she said.
“I think you should take a nap now,” Susanne said.
Angela yawned again. “Maybe I should.” She pulled out her pillow and was soon fast asleep.
She awoke just as Mom was getting sandwiches out of the cooler for lunch.
The afternoon passed slowly as she and her siblings played the ABC game and worked on the scavenger hunt Susanne made for them. A little before supper time, they arrived at the folks’ place where they were planning to stay for the night.
The next morning, they went to church. Angela shyly followed Mom and Susanne into the sanctuary. She saw some girls who looked about her age. After church was over, she stood next to Mom while she talked with the other ladies. As she looked around, she saw a group of girls her age gathered in the back of the sanctuary. They were talking and laughing, but none of them came and talked with her. Every once in a while, she saw them look over at her. Angela felt funny. Why didn’t they come to talk to her, she thought. She felt a little sad, standing there all alone beside Mom.
After a while, Dad was ready to go. Angela picked up her Bible and followed Mom out to the van.
“How did you like this church?” asked Dad.
“I really like it,” said Susanne.
“So do I,” said Angela’s brothers.
“What about you, Angela?” asked Dad.
Angela’s lips quivered. “I didn’t like it. The girls were all standing in the back, talking and laughing and glancing over at me, but no one came to talk to me.”
“Maybe the next time we come, I can help you make some friends,” encouraged Mom. “And always remember, when there’s a new girl in church, go talk to her. If you’re scared to, remember how you felt today.” Mom smiled at Angela.
Angela smiled back. “I’ll try,” she said.
Several years later, Angela was sitting in church beside Susanne when she saw a new family walk in and sit down. They had a girl who looked just her age. After church, Angela and her friends gathered in the back of the sanctuary like they usually did. Suddenly, Angela remembered what Mom had told her when they had visited, and no one talked to her.
“I’m going to talk to that new girl,” she told her friends. “It’s not fun to see a group of girls talking together and no one comes to talk to you.” Angela went and talked to her and pretty soon she had a new friend! Angela decided that Mom’s advice was always worth following.
The Heartbeat of the Remnant, by Marian Martin, Vol. 31, Issue 3, 16
“A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a Friend who stays nearer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 NLV. You can be friendly to others so they don’t feel alone. But if you ever feel alone there is a Friend who will always be true and will never leave you, and that Friend is Jesus.