A Second Home

Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

Mandy and Veronica met at church—and they hit it off quickly. It wasn’t long before Veronica asked Mandy, “Would you want to come and hang out at my house?”

“Yes!” Mandy responded quickly. Mandy’s dad did not live at home and her mom was gone and working a lot, so Mandy was lonely and in need of a friend. She was happy to be invited.

Veronica and her mom, Claudette, soon realized that Mandy’s home life was hard. They began to invite Mandy to their home often. They’d bake together, do crafts, and just spend time together. Veronica and her mom would also pick up Mandy on Wednesday nights for church.

Over time Veronica’s house became a second home for Mandy, a safe space where she was shown love, compassion, and kindness.

Sometimes we may meet someone whose family is not the safe shelter it should be. When we meet someone like that, God wants us to be there for them, to notice others who may be hurting and in need of a friend. We can be the one who is there for other people going through a hard time.

God doesn’t want us to just be concerned for ourselves and our own lives, but to also be concerned for others. This means we can all be on the lookout for other kids and people around us who are sad and lonely. We can be the ones to take an interest in their lives and offer comfort and support to someone in need. We can make our circles of love a second home for them.

Things to Think About

• Who has been there for you when you were going through a hard time? How did they show you they cared?
• Who around you may be in need of a friend?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Look for someone who is lonely and be the friend who’ll listen and invite them into your circle of friends or family.