Life’s Thorns (Part 2)

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:27-29; John 15:13; 1 John 3:16

“Hey, Grace, did you do anything yet for our Sunday school challenge?” Presley asked as the girls walked home from school. “It’s Thursday already, and I still haven’t helped heal anybody who’s hurting or needy.” Presley shrugged. “Guess I’ll just have to tell Miss Linda I’m not a very good doctor.”

Grace hesitated. “I talked with Juliette and tried to make her feel a little better about her parents getting divorced, but…I don’t know.” She changed the subject. “How did you do on that math test?”

“Terrible,” said Presley. “I got a seventy-three.”

“It could be worse. I heard most of the class failed,” Grace replied. “Some kids said Lily didn’t get a single problem right! I overheard them laughing about it.”

“I guess she isn’t very smart,” Presley said. “She doesn’t have many friends either. I think—” Presley stopped in the middle of her sentence. She took a deep breath. “Grace, how would you feel if you always got bad grades and all the kids laughed at you and you didn’t have any friends?”

Grace blinked. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” Presley nodded her head solemnly.

Grace sighed. “A hurting person who needs friends—my mom would say she’s been hurt by life’s thorns. Well, all right. We could see if she wants to come and study with us tonight.”

“Yeah, but being her friend just one evening won’t do it,” Presley said. “When you broke your leg last year, it took a long time to heal. I’m sure it will take a while for Lily’s hurt feelings to heal too. She needs friends who will be there for her for more than just one night.”

“That’s true,” said Grace. “Temporary friends aren’t really friends anyway. Real friends are friends all the time.”

Presley nodded. “Here’s Lily’s house now. Let’s go and invite her over.”

As they walked up on the porch, Grace had a thought. “My mom told me that Jesus is the only one who can really heal people’s hurts. By being Lily’s friends—her real friends—we’ll be pointing her to Jesus because He’s the best friend anyone can have.”

“Right,” said Presley as she rang the doorbell. “Let’s show her that Jesus wants to be her friend.”

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Do you know someone who needs a friend? Are you willing to be that friend? Being a real friend—a friend like Jesus—doesn’t just last a day or two. As today’s Key Verse says, a friend loves at all times. Be a friend like that—a friend who’s willing to listen, encourage, and help day in and day out. Trust Jesus to help you be the kind of friend He is so you can point others to Him.

Today’s Key Verse: Proverbs 17:17 (NKJV) A friend loves at all times.

Today’s Key Thought:

Be a real friend