A Lesson on Friendships*

by a Sister in Christ
from Virtuous Daughters, August 2005~Volume 5, Number 5

“Mom, may I please invite a friend over today?”  Elizabeth requested. 
   
“Yes, you may, dear,” replied Mama, “as soon as you finish chores and school.”  Later that afternoon, Elizabeth and Victoria were sitting on the porch happily deciding how to spend the afternoon.
   
“I know, why don’t we play that we each own a little store and we can buy and sell things to each other with our play money?” suggested Elizabeth.
   
“Yes, that would be fun!” Victoria said agreeing with her friend.
   
Skipping cheerfully into the living room, the girls began to set up their stores.  Then a thought popped into Elizabeth’s mind, Maybe I should check with Mom and make sure she doesn’t mind if we make a mess in the living room.  Oh well, I don’t know where Mom is, and Victoria might think I’m silly.  After working busily, the whole living room was full of merchandise on display.
   
Hearing a sweet voice, Victoria turned around.  It was Elizabeth’s little sister, Hannah.  “Can I play too?” Hannah asked.
   
Oh no, she’s too little and we’ll have to help her.  Why did she have to come along?  Sour thoughts were filling Victoria’s mind.  “No, why don’t you play over here with these markers and coloring books?” Victoria said hastily as she shoved the little girl into another room.
   
A few minutes later Mama walked inside from checking the mail.  She was a very patient and kind mother, but a shadow of disappointment crossed her face.  “Girls, I need to have dinner ready and the house clean soon because we are having a special guest for dinner.  Where is baby Hannah?”  When Mama found Hannah, she looked up and flashed a rainbow colored smile at Mama while waving a chewed-up marker in her hand.
   
​Later, before bed, Mama sat down with Elizabeth.  “Let’s see what the Bible teaches us about friends:

“Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  We should be considerate of our younger brothers and sisters and let them play when we do things with friends.  We should give to God the expectations and desires to have our friends all to ourselves.” Mama explained.
   
“Ephesians 6:2 Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise…  Remember to honor your parents by always checking with them before doing any activity and cheerfully offering to help them with their projects first.
   
“Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works…  Finally, Elizabeth, always be a leader to do what is right when you are with friends and encourage them to do right,” Mama said, closing the Bible.
 
   
The next time Elizabeth invited a friend to her house, she prayed first and then Elizabeth and her friend skipped into the kitchen and said, “Is there anything we can do to help you, Mom, before we play?”  Then they checked with Mom, making sure it was okay with her before running outside to swing.  And when baby Hannah toddled out, they enthusiastically swung her in the baby swing.