When I was 13, I started going to a new church. I was hesitant to get involved. Like most teens, I didn’t enjoy being the new kid. As time passed, I began making a few acquaintances.
One day, I overheard a girl inviting everyone over to her house for a sleepover. I noticed that I wasn’t included, so I jokingly interjected. As much as she apologized and begged me to come, I couldn’t help but feel it was a forced invitation on my behalf.
But I went, and it was a night filled with typical girly activities. We had a blast! Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of, “Was I really meant to be here?” I just started to pray and forced myself to ignore it.
The next day as I was packing, I was in the room with the girl that invited everyone, just the two of us. We started talking, about everything. Before I knew it, she shared how excited she was that I wanted to come. She said she had a lot going on in her life and she just needed a real friend. So we decided to become friends. I didn’t think much of it that day.
But 15 years later, we are still best friends. That whole night, I’d felt I didn’t belong there; I’d felt I intruded. My friend recently shared with me how that night was an answered prayer. She had asked God for a true best friend, someone she knew would be there for her forever.
I had no idea God was going to use me that day or in that way. I was an answered prayer for someone just by saying yes to an invite. Now, whenever I meet a stranger, I take time to listen to them and make sure they feel valued. You never know when God may use you to be a friend to someone who needs one.
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