Article January 1, 2000 ISSUE

Friends Friendship

Natasha Millington,—Macgregor, Queensland, Australia

I went through a lot of trouble with my school friends. One minute, they were my best friends. Next minute, they acted like I was their worst enemy. For a few months they took it upon themselves to make my life miserable.

During this time, I prayed about what was happening. I knew God was looking after me. He was protecting me from anything evil. But even though I prayed like this, I still felt terrible.

One day, I was speaking to my mother about the problem. She gave me a good idea. She said that, instead of praying just for myself to be happier, why not pray about my friends, too? When people are unkind to each other, they're really listening to confused thoughts. They're not really happy. I suddenly realized that my prayers could help my friends stop listening to these types of thoughts—and stop being unhappy. This gave me a wonderful feeling. I could pray for myself. And I could also pray to help other people! I started to do this straight away.

I looked up a lot of helpful ideas in the Bible and also in Science and Health. This particular verse in the Bible helped me so much: “Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44 ). Although simple, the message was very clear. It helped me solve my problem.

I knew that God loved both my friends and me. He guides us all. So I couldn't be affected by meanness. And my friends couldn't keep being mean to me. They could realize that there was a better way.

Soon after I prayed this way, things changed. I felt comforted by God—more so than before. And my friends began to include me again.

I'm very grateful to God, and for the fact that I now know I can help other—and myself—through prayer. :)

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