What Do You Think? Wednesday

In sixth grade Amelia sat, mostly alone, mostly sad-eyed, until I said something to her. She perked up a bit and must have liked what I said, being the next one the next day to seek to foster our friendship.

“I got this joint that we could smoke together and I can bring us one every day.”

“Amelia, you don’t have to do that. I want to be your friend and you don’t have to give me anything.”

She insisted a bit. I insisted a bit more. And this girl—with the wavy hair, light chocolate skin and brick house body who was trying to be a strong black woman, put the joint her mama’s boyfriend gave her back in her pocket, sat back and smiled. And I could hear her smile when we talked on the phone every night and see her eyes dance in the classroom and the lunchroom the weeks she was at my school. She didn’t stay until the end of the school year, but our time together has stayed with me and I hope with Amelia.

I want to be like my 12-year-old self, providing comfort, not condemnation, to those seeking acceptance and esteem and not knowing where and how to get it. But I have them both to give, through the person of Jesus Christ. You got Jesus? Are you sharing Him? How are you going to show your Amelias comfort so they connect with the love of Jesus? Watch below to help you decide how you will show someone some comfort: