A Secret Melody

No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy.

THE MOMENT KELLY saw her eleven-year-old daughter Mia, she knew something was wrong. Her normally happy-go-lucky girl trudged through the pickup line with drooped shoulders and downcast eyes. When she got into the car, Mia silently buckled her seat belt, folded her arms tightly around her middle, and let her head drop forward in defeat.

Mia’s posture reminded Kelly why no amount of money would ever entice her to relive the middle-school years.

Change, she thought. So many changes happen all at once. As if changing classes, changing bodies, and changing hormones weren’t enough to make even the happiest of children grumpy, the stress of changing friendships and learning (often the hard way) whom you could count on was enough to make every kid wish they could fast-forward through middle school.

So far, the most painful lesson for Mia was finding someone she could trust.

When Mia began to cry in the car, the story came out. Thinking her sixth-grade secrets—her crush on a classmate and her dream of being a princess at Disney World—were safe with the friends she had trusted since third grade, she had shared them. Her so-called friends had blabbed her confidences to the entire lunch table.

“I will never trust anyone again!” she vowed as they arrived home.

Inside the house, Melody, their four-year-old Golden-collie mix, came bounding toward them. Mia dropped her backpack on the floor and ran into the family room. Kelly knelt down to pet Melody.

“I think someone needs a friend, Mellie,” Kelly whispered.

Melody followed Kelly into the family room where Mia was lying facedown on the sofa, a pillow over her head. Kelly sat down beside her daughter and began to rub her back. Melody put her head right beside Mia’s. Her black nose pressed against Mia’s wet cheek, and she began to lick the salty tears.

A small hand moved and gently touched Melody’s side.

Kelly smiled.

“You know,” Kelly said, “Melody is really good at keeping secrets.”

Mia gave a muffled response. “That’s because she can’t talk.”

“Exactly,” Kelly said. “That’s what makes her such an excellent secret keeper. After all, she’s never told you any of my secrets, has she?”

Mia slipped the pillow under her head and turned over to look at her mother, switching hands to keep petting Melody.

“You tell Melody secrets?” Mia asked incredulously. “But you’re a married grown-up! You don’t have any secrets.”

Kelly nearly choked on a laugh.

“Sure I do,” she said. “Big ones too.”

“Like what?” Mia asked skeptically.

Kelly hesitated before answering, lost in her own thoughts. It’s true. There are some things that I have never shared with anyone except Melody—and God.

“Well, one secret I’ve told Melody that I’ll share with you—because I know I can trust you—is that I’m scared of talking in front of people.”

Mia sat up.

“But you talk in front of people all the time. It’s part of your job.”

Kelly grinned. “I know, but the truth is, I’m terrified every time I do it.”

“Mama, can you tell me another one of your secrets?”

Kelly thought for a minute. “Want to know my biggest secret?”

Mia nodded.

“Deep down in my heart, I still feel like I’m in middle school and worried about what everyone thinks of me.”

Mia laughed. “For real?”

The righteous choose their friends carefully.

“For real,” Kelly admitted.

Mia scooted closer to Melody. “And Mellie helps you? Like when you talk to her?”

It was Kelly’s turn to nod. “She sure does. Mellie always listens, even to my silliest fears and secrets. And I never ever have to worry about her laughing at me or telling anybody what I said. She really is man’s—or rather, woman’s—best friend.”

Mia slid onto the floor next to Melody. “Do you mind if I talk to Melody for a little bit?”

Kelly kissed the top of Mia’s head. “I don’t mind at all. I’ll leave the two of you alone.” But just before leaving the room, Kelly turned around and looked lovingly at her daughter.

“Just remember. I’m pretty good at keeping secrets too.”

A bright smile lit up Mia’s face. “I know, Mama.”

“Thank you, God,” Kelly prayed out loud as she walked into the kitchen to start dinner. “Between you and Melody, I think we all just might survive the middle-school years.”

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you thought you could trust? Did it affect your willingness to trust others? Do you have a trusted confidant? Are you a confidant for someone else? Why is trust so important in relationships?

Paws & Pray

Father, no one is more trustworthy than you. Thank you for the dear friends and animals you’ve given me who remind me I can trust you—at all times. Help me to be a treasured and trustworthy friend to others.