Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10

As Emma and Chloe started home, they ran into Weston—a school bully. “Hey, Chloe, where’d you get this hat?” asked Weston as he grabbed the red cap from her head and tossed it down on the sidewalk. Chloe stared at him.

“Stop that!” yelled Emma, darting toward the cap. She returned it to Chloe, then glared at Weston. “You leave her alone.”

“Thank you,” said Chloe, smiling as she placed the cap back on her head. Weston laughed and walked away.

When the girls reached Chloe’s house, Chloe smiled at Emma. “Wanna walk to school together tomorrow?” she asked.

“Sure,” said Emma. Then she hurried on to her own house.

“What’s up?” asked Mom when she saw the expression on Emma’s face.

“I’m just thinking about Chloe,” said Emma. “She has special needs, and some of the kids tease her.” She sighed and plopped down onto the couch. “Why does God allow some people to have problems like hers? Did He make a mistake when He created them?”

“A mistake?” asked Mom.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like life can be much fun for Chloe,” said Emma. “She has to work hard to learn even simple things.”

“Yes, she does,” said Mom. “And because of that, Chloe’s parents are extremely proud of all she can do. Chloe is the joy of their lives.”

“Yes, but…” Emma paused. “What about Chloe? She can’t be having much fun.”

“Oh, I think she is,” said Mom. “Her mom tells me how much Chloe looks forward to going to school every day. She loves to learn and always wants to help her classmates when they don’t understand something. Chloe is a happy girl who cares about others—and she often talks about her friend Emma.”

“Really?” asked Emma in surprise.

Mom nodded. “Always remember that God made and loves each one of us, and He has a purpose for all He does. Although we don’t know all God’s reasons for making Chloe the way He has, we know that people like her bring God glory. God never makes a mistake. Even though we don’t fully understand how, Chloe is glorifying God in her own unique way.”

–Michelle Davidson