A New Life

Riley couldn't believe the man up front was still talking. He sighed and looked at Mom, who was listening intently. She had become a Christian a few months earlier, and she'd been making Riley go to church with her ever since. I wish things were the way they were before, Riley thought. "So what did you think of the sermon?" asked Mom as they got in the car after church. Riley shrugged. "It was fine, I guess.""You're not sure how you feel about all this, are you?" asked Mom."I don't know," said Riley. "I just don't see what it has to do with me. My life is fine the way it is." And it was even better before I had to get up for church every Sunday, he thought. When they stopped at a traffic light, they saw a man holding a sign that said Hungry Please Help. "Do you think that man knows he's needy?" Mom asked. Riley stared at her. "Um, yeah, Mom. I think he does."Mom shrugged. "Well, I was just like him once, but I didn't know it."Riley was startled. "You were?" He knew his mom's life had been tough, but he didn't think it had ever been so bad that she'd had to beg for money on the street. Mom nodded. "Yep. And then one day someone found me and gave me a whole new life.""What?" Riley could hardly believe his ears. "Who?""Jesus!" said Mom. She smiled as Riley stared at her in confusion. "I'm not talking about needing money to buy food," she said. "I'm talking about being hungry and needy in my heart. I was lost and alone, and I didn't even realize how miserable I was. But when I found Jesus, He made me like new, and when I look back on my old life, I can see how much I needed Him to fill me with hope and joy. That's what Jesus did for me, and He can do the same for you."Riley was silent for a while before he spoke. "I guess I'll have to think about it some more.""Okay," said Mom. She parked the car next to a sub shop. "In the meantime, let's go buy that man a sandwich." – Courtney Lasater