A Braid Story…

Imagine the sweetest, most wholesome, dearest person you know. Then multiply that by 5. Now you have a picture of *Renee, who is now an 8th grader. Renee embodies a childlike nature (in part because she’s still a child) and the thing she longs for most is a real friend. You’ve probably also experienced the awkward, nervous, self-centered days of adolescence. I’ve watched as Renee sits on the outside, looking in, longing to be included and pursued by peers. Our conversations turn often to what it means to have a friend, and what it means to BE a friend. The anguish of not being asked questions or invited to join often means we overlook asking others questions or inviting them to join us instead.

This last week at camp, I encouraged Renee to go up to another student and ask them how their bike ride was. Fear was overcome in the face of desire for a friend… and the Lord responded with kindness. “Thank you for asking! It was really good…” I’m excited to see her grow in confidence and ability to see other people the way she wants to be seen. Often, I hear her compassion for her mother with health problems and younger siblings and the stress of life, and her desire to ease the burden. I invite you to join me in praying that this very same compassion would swell into healthy relationships both inside and outside of her family.

“The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.” – Psalm 25:14

Bella Binsfeld
Braid Coordinator & Rebalance Coach

*Names are changed for privacy purposes and pictures are not necessarily connected to the story