Don't forget the girl sitting alone....

As I helped my daughter & her friend get ready for a party they were invited to,
I was consumed by their burst of energy and laughter as I helped them both with their makeup and hair, but reminded them of their beauty despite of all the glamour.
To be around them reminded me of just how tough these teen years are. With the pressure of fitting in, it takes alot of courage to be who they are without excuses.

We read about so many stories of the type of bullying that would drive these young people to take their lives, and I'm transparent and sensitive with my daughter and pray daily that she would always know, that she will never have a more faithful friend than her God, and her mom.

The conversation I had with them both was about trust and acceptance. It's important that in this day and age they would always feel accepted at home because of the rejection they may encounter from those they may least expect. But the lesson is in how well they respond to that rejection, and how they in turn would not turn around and make someone feel the exact way they've been treated.

I recently watched a documentary of a girl that had a tumor on her face and as a result, went thru her high school years terribly bullied. She had very little friends (which sometimes can be a blessing), but the torment this girl went thru brought my daughter and I to tears. After the documentary I had a serious talk with my daughter about this and explained to her that being popular is NEVER as important as showing someone they too are important and that they matter. I remind her this grieves God's heart.

As the girls excitedly head for the door, my daughter's friend goes down the stairs thanking me for helping them both get ready. My daughter walks toward me to give me a kiss goodbye and tells me she loves me. I return the kiss, tell her I love her back, look her in the eye and remind her, "don't forget the girl sitting alone!" to which she replies, "I know mom."

Lord keep her sensitive and compassionate enough to understand, her action can cause an impact and send a ripple effect.