Breathing Courage

Breathing Courage

Bible Blast: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

By now you may have figured out that around your age, guys and girls start to change, especially in the way they look. Suddenly, a boy who’s always been shorter is towering over everyone. And a girl with fine, straight hair might start to have thicker, wavier hair. You especially notice these changes after summer is over and you’re back for the first day of school. Boys can change so much in such a short amount of time that you may not even recognize them at first!

It’s an exciting and weird time of life, don’t you think? I mean, it’s so wonderful to grow up and start looking and feeling older, but sometimes it can be hard, especially because everyone changes at different times. Some girls’ bodies will start to mature when they’re eleven, and some won’t until they’re fourteen or older.

If there’s a girl whose body has started to develop (especially in the chest) before everyone else’s, she can feel awkward. Sometimes boys and others will say silly things because she looks different from the way she used to, and that can be embarrassing for her at times.

If that girl were you (and maybe it is), how would you want to be treated? It seems like a great time to offer some encouragement, wouldn’t you agree? When you encourage someone, it literally means you “breathe courage” into someone. A girl whose body is changing into a young woman’s could probably use some courage from a good friend. If you see people saying rude things to her, stand up for her. As you can tell by today’s focus verse, we’re actually commanded to encourage each other. Encouragement is supposed to be a natural part of a Christian’s life.

Eventually, everybody’s body gets to a similar place of maturity, and the changes become no big deal. But until then, everyone needs a lot of encouragement and building up. Pray for your friends and classmates during this time. It can make a huge difference in your school.

Girl Gab: Mom, talk to your daughter about practical ways to “breathe courage” into the kids in her class. Pray that others in her grade would be full of grace and love as they change and grow.