From Four to Fourteen and Beyond | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: From Four to Fourteen and Beyond | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beth S. Biermann
06/14/07
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As a fourteen-year-old, Camille still enjoyed going to church every Sunday. Sure, she liked to sing the hymns and praise songs and even paid attention to the sermon sometimes. But what she looked forward to most all week was spending time with her friends, Mabel and Olivia, the girls she felt closest to despite all three of them attending different schools. Sure, she had friends from school, but Mabel and Olivia were more like sisters to her – she couldn’t imagine being as close to anyone else. There was something special about their little group. They had known each other for ten years, first playing together as four-year-old preschoolers, then having sleepovers, and attending youth group outings and Sunday school picnics.

Vacation bible school had always been a place for them to have fun for one greatly anticipated week each summer. This year, instead of attending as students, they had signed up to be teacher’s helpers for the preschool class. As the little four-year olds gathered in a circle for their opening prayer, Camille noticed that a few of the kids were looking a little worried and one was even wiping a few tears from her cheek while looking bashfully at the floor. The teacher welcomed them all and thanked the teenagers for helping. Then, the children held hands as the teacher prayed, “Dear Lord, please guide us this week as we play together, learn about Your love for us, and make new friends. Help us to remember that You are always with us and our moms and dads will be back soon. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

The prayer made her think about the new things facing her and her friends in the future. Just a few weeks ago, they had all graduated from junior high school, each of them attending the others’ ceremonies and graduation parties, rejoicing together in their varied accomplishments. As they all prepared to enter high school, Camille was faced with some very conflicting feelings. She was excited to try out for the marching band and was hoping to write for the school newspaper, but was worried about fitting in with so many new kids, some much older. Mabel and Olivia had never attended the same school with her, but now, with such a big change ahead of her, that seemed more of a problem than it ever had before.

Maybe it was as simple as the teacher’s prayer for the preschoolers. If she remembered that God was with her always and that her parents would be there for her, then she would be able to get over her fears of starting a new chapter in her life. She would make new friends in high school, just as these little boys and girls would make new friends this week at vacation bible school. And, of course, she would always have Mabel and Olivia.

As the prayer circle broke apart and the children scampered to their next activity, Camille caught Mabel and Olivia’s eyes from across the room. They gave each other knowing smiles, full of every joy and worry that was in their hearts. And in that instant, she knew that whatever happened in high school, these girls would always be there for her, along with her parents, and most importantly, God.

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