Darkness and Light

"Is your homework finished?" asked Gia's mom after dinner one evening. "Yeah," said Gia. "But you know what, Mom? I like our new apartment, but I wish I could have stayed at my old school. I don't think there's a single kid in my class here who goes to church except me. They seem nice enough, but I miss having Christian friends at school."Mom nodded as she opened a cupboard door and took out a flashlight and a light bulb. "The light bulb in the bathroom went out," she said. "It's too dark to see in there, so come hold the flashlight for me, will you?""Okay," said Gia. She took the flashlight and turned it on."Do the kids at school know you're a Christian?" asked Mom."Well, I haven't really said anything," said Gia. "I'm not sure what they'd think." She sighed. "It was so much easier to be a Christian at my old school." She turned the flashlight toward the light fixture and Mom quickly screwed out the old bulb and replaced it with a new one."Gia," Mom said as they headed back to the kitchen, "where was that flashlight needed--in the kitchen or in the bathroom?""In the bathroom," Gia answered. "That's where it was dark.""Right," said Mom. "Jesus said to let our light shine for Him, and that's needed most in dark places--places like the school you go to now, and like this apartment complex too. I've talked with a few of our neighbors, and I don't think any of them know the Lord."Mom put the flashlight back in the cupboard. "Why don't you ask one of the girls from school to come over for dinner sometime?" she suggested. "As she gets to know you better, she'll start to see that you live life differently from what she's used to, and she might want to find out more about it." "Okay," said Gia. "I'll try Rumi first--she's really nice.""Good," said Mom. "And let's see how you can get involved at our new church too. That will help you get to know some Christian friends who can support and encourage you as you shine your light for Jesus." –Mary Rose Pearson