No Throwaway Friends

"Emma, don't forget that you need to clean your closet," said Mom. But the closet was the last thing on Emma's mind as she finished her snack after school. "Wren said she would sit with me at lunch today, but when I went to the lunchroom, she wasn't there. She's been doing lots of stuff like that lately. I'm never going to speak to her again!""I know it hurts when friends disappoint us," said Mom. "But instead of dumping her as a friend, maybe you could try to find out if something's wrong. Maybe she's having problems at school or at home."Emma shook her head. "We're not friends anymore," she declared as she stomped off to clean her closet.When Emma returned to the kitchen, she was clutching something furry in her arms. "Look what I found in the back of my closet!" she said, holding out her old teddy bear.Mom smiled. "That old thing," she said fondly. "You used to take him everywhere.""Teddy was my best friend," Emma said, hugging him closer.Mom took Teddy from Emma's arms. "Yes, but look at him now. The color is rubbed off his nose, the fur is gone from the back of his head, and--pew! He doesn't smell very good. I think it's time to get rid of him." Mom walked toward the wastebasket."No, Mom!" Emma cried, reaching for the bear. "I can't throw him away! He's my friend."Mom stopped. "Well, okay. But if you want to keep him, you'll have to clean him up a bit." She handed the bear back to Emma. "You're right--we shouldn't throw our friends away, should we?"Emma hugged Teddy tightly. "You mean Wren, don't you?" She sighed. "I guess I don't want to throw her away either." Mom rubbed at an old chocolate stain on Teddy's arm. "We all disappoint our friends at times. Sometimes we just need some extra attention like Teddy here--we need a friend who's there for us no matter what. That's the kind of friend Jesus is--He wouldn't ever throw us away. He loves us and forgives us and promises to be with us when things are hard. And because you know Him, you can be the same kind of friend to Wren. With a little extra love, I'm sure she'll be as good as new." –Katherine R. Adams