Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Friendship (04/04/05)
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TITLE: The Garden of Friendship | Previous Challenge Entry
By carlene coney
04/06/05 -
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This winter we were building snow forts, and there were several disabled children playing also. Some had obvious physical disabilities; others had problems with slow speech.After explaining to my 13 year old daughter what Downs Syndrome was, and perhaps why another wore leg braces, she went off to work on the fort.
A group of four boys and two girls, began a snow ball fight. After fifteen minutes, they began to taunt of the disabled children.
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly.Prov. 18: 24 KJV
Making a snow castle with one of the special needs boys, Anna asked Micah if it hurt him when people teased him.
"Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. People make fun of what they don't know, or don't like. You like me, so now I am happy.”
He returned to sculpt his snow castle.
(Eccl. 4: 9 KJV "Two are better than one," wrote the wise man). A true friend will stand by, even in times of trouble. "
After a few minutes, two of the teens mocked him, called him names and talked with slurred speech.
He began to cry.
Anna shouted "He's not bothering you and you should leave him alone. It's mean to pick on someone just because they're different!”
(Prov. 17: 17 KJV,A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity,"
The adults in charge stepped in and threatened to report the youngsters for harassment and after a few chosen words the group vanished.
"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go" (Prov. 22: 24 KJV).
Riding home Anna played with my opal ring. Since October has two birthstones she asked why I chose the opal.
I smiled.
“Look at it, then clasp it tight in your fist count to ten, and open your hand.”
As she opened she exclaimed, "Oh! It's so beautiful with colors in it! What did I do? "
“You gave it warmth. The opal is a very soft stone, easily bruised and broken, but it absorbs the warmth.
The warmth brings out the brilliance in it.
You wouldn't have expected much from the looks of a cold clouded opal.
A little effort and warmth, what a difference! Despite the outside package, inside held something beautiful waiting for the secret to be discovered.
Then Anna said, “Oh, being a friend is kinda like that isn’t it? I mean, you work with what you have and make the best of it? Then try to see past the outside to what lies underneath, is that right?”
“Yes”, I said.
Gleaming she asked, “Then, there are some real gems out there waiting for just me to uncover?”
“Possibly, and maybe you’re the only one to give them the warmth they need to bring out the gem underneath.”
Little did we know that little boy would turn out to be the brother of one of my daughters now best friends!
Genuine friends must be cherished and not forsaken (Prov. 27: 10). There's no danger of getting eyestrain while on the bright side of things.
If you’ve had a hard day today, or if you’ve been on the receiving end of unkind remarks, may these words reach out to you, as my daughters hand did to that opal and brought out the brilliance inside.
Any friendship can be beautiful on the outside, but so empty on the inside. How wonderful when we take the time to go below the surface and check out what the friendship holds.
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