It was the last recess before Christmas break. A lonely hearted eleven year old walked the noisy playground alone. Looking around he realized he was the only one not in a group among many classmates.

Because of his large stature many jested "Here comes OLE Fatso. He can't even touch his toes." He was laughed at so often no one wanted to be around him.

His efforts to join in all the fun only brought on more jeers because of his awkwardness, since most of the games were unfamiliar to him due to his limited involvement.

How often he desired to be accepted by just one group, but they all rejected him. One day he was even slugged in the face for trying to join in a game. Bothered by the assault and continual jesting he finally just stayed to himself.

With no one to share with he often carried on mental conversations with himself as he looked into the hard spiteful eyes of others. This seemed to help drown out their abusive words.

His heart was growing hard and bitter. In silence he said to himself "I wish I had just one friend".

A still small voice from the Lord interjected, "I'm your friend!"

"Lord you know I believe in you but it's not the same. How can you understand how I feel? I can't even see you". he said.

It then occurred to the young boy that the little book he carried seemed to burn right through his back pocket. Reaching, he pulled it forth and read:

"Come to me and I will give you rest-- all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke-- for it fits perfectly-- and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens."

"Yeah Lord but you still don't understand! No one ever made jokes about you!"

A basketball whisked by and knocked the small Bible from his hand. Laughing, a group of boys taunted, "Ha! He can't even catch a ball!" He slowly picked up his book and retreated to another spot.

His thumb laid pressed upon a picture of three men hanging from crosses on a hill. The background clouds caught his attention. They were dark with lightning flashing as Roman soldiers with spears stood near the feet of the one in the middle. Something was encircled on his head as the blood ran down his face.

Slowly he raised the book for a closer look and read: The chief priests and religious leaders were also standing around joking about Jesus. "He's quite clever at 'saving' others," they said, "but he can't save himself!"

"Hey there, Messiah!" another yelled at him. "You 'King of Israel'! Come on down from the cross and we'll believe you!" And even the two robbers dying with him, cursed him.

The boy's heart saddened as the jeers in the background faded from the forefront of his mind. He was beginning to see Christ in a way he had never before.

A warmness filled his heart and he felt a touch on his left shoulder that was so real he turned abruptly but no one was seen.

A sudden reality occurred. "They didn't really believe in you did they? Just like I haven't really believed in you. And they were there! They could see you!"

His heart swelled as big as his statue and he shed a tear of true repentance with a deeper understanding of faith.

"But what should I do about all the ones who make fun of me? What about them?" he asked.

He sat in silence lightly holding the book as the wind blew the pages from his grip. He grasped it tighter and drew it nearer reading: "But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive you your sins too."

The bell rang for recess to be over. As the young boy slowly made his way to the classroom the bitterness drained, and with a hopeful heart he received his greatest Christmas gift; "forgiveness!"

Once inside the classroom his teacher began the roll call. The boy began thinking heavily upon his best friend, Jesus Christ. He was caught up in a momentary envision of what Jesus might really have looked like, when very suddenly the teacher's long ruler rapped twice, hard upon his desk top!

She questioned sternly, "Colin S. Campbell! Are you with us today or are you somewhere else, day dreaming again?!"

The teacher's loud voice and hard rapping had interrupted the boy's pleasant thoughts, but it had not interrupted his peace. He took his own sweet time answering her question.

"WELL, ...?" she snapped.

"Here!" I said, knowing I had a friend.

A FRIEND © Copyright 2001
~ by Chaplain Scott. All rights reserved to www.chaplainscott.com

Non commercial copies permitted with the above copyrighted notice.

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