Don’t Do Life Alone

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

“It’s been months now,” Mia said. “I don’t know why I feel so sad all the time.”

Mia’s teacher, Mrs. Sampson, nodded sympathetically. “I’ve had a time in my life when I felt sad too.” She went on to explain, “What you’re experiencing, Mia, is normal. A lot of people have times of sadness or even depression.”

After they talked, Mrs. Sampson told Mia she was going to call her mom, just so she knew about their conversation. Mia agreed that would be a good idea.

When Mia got home that day, she and her mom sat on Mia’s bed together. Once again, Mia explained some of the sad feelings she had been having lately.

“I think it might be good for you to talk with a professional about it,” Mia’s mom said, giving her a squeeze.

Through a referral from her school, Mia began to meet weekly with a counselor over several months. Through those conversations, Mia began to sort through her thoughts and emotions with a trusted adult who could guide her until she began to feel better about life.

Sometimes we can feel shame if we are in a season when we are sad or down, but we don’t have to feel bad about what we are going through. That is the time to reach out to a trusted adult and let them know what we are experiencing. And you know what? When we do, we’ll find we’re not alone. God gave us other people and himself to help us through life. None of us are meant to do life alone. Jesus tells us we can come to him if we’re worried and burdened, and he’ll give us rest. He wants to be there for us when we’re happy and when we’re sad.

Things to Think About

• When have you experienced a time you felt sad? What helped you feel better?
• Make a list of adults you could talk to if you ever experience deep sadness again.

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Think of a friend you could comfort who might be feeling worried or sad.