Read: Proverbs 18:24; Philippians 2:3-8

Luke sat in the pew and stared off into space as his parents talked to some friends nearby. His stomach growled loudly, and he hoped his family would leave soon.

“What are you doing sitting here by yourself?”

Luke looked up as Mr. Bryant sat down in the pew in front of him. “Nothing,” Luke said with a smile. He liked talking to Mr. Bryant.

“Why don’t you go talk to someone?” Mr. Bryant asked.

Luke shrugged. “I don’t have any friends here,” he said.

“What do you mean you don’t have friends?” Mr. Bryant looked around the church. “I bet the kids over there are your age.” He pointed to someone up front. “And I know he’s your age!”

Luke looked and saw that Mr. Bryant was pointing to his grandson standing by the piano. “It’s just—it’s hard to know what to say to other kids,” he told Mr. Bryant. “I don’t mind being by myself.”

Mr. Bryant cleared his throat. “Remember when you first started coming to church here with your family? I totally ignored you, and that’s how we became friends, right?”

Luke laughed. “No! You were one of the first people to say hello, and we talk all the time now.”

Mr. Bryant nodded and leaned his arm on top of the pew. “Listen, Luke. You want friends, don’t you?” Luke nodded. “Well,” Mr. Bryant said, “to have friends, you have to be friendly and take an interest in others. You have to go right up and introduce yourself, like I did when I first met you.”

“But it’s hard,” Luke said.

“So’s math,” said Mr. Bryant with a grin. “But you don’t have to do it on your own. Jesus is the greatest Friend there is—He became one of us and died to save us so we could be His friends forever! With His help, I think you’ll make one of those friends the Bible talks about—one that sticks closer than a brother.”

Luke thought about that and smiled. “I guess that’d be cool.”

Mr. Bryant leaned over and gave Luke a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Now you’re talking.” He looked at his watch and got up. “See you later, Luke.” He jerked his thumb toward his grandson. “Now go say hello.”

–Katlyn Traxler

How about you? Do you need a friend? Trying to make friends can be scary, but it gets easier the more you practice. Trust Jesus to help you be the kind of friend He is—one who cares about others and takes an interest in their lives. Ask Him to give you the courage to reach out to those around you and be friendly. Just saying hello to someone new could be the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

Today's Key Verse: A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV) Proverbs 18:24

Today's Key Thought: Be a friend