Trouble At The Amusement Park

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

“Come on, let’s go on Ghost Blasters next!”

Elise hurried to keep up with her friends. She had already braved the scariest roller coaster—The Rock Bottom Plunge—and ridden countless times on Brain Surge, where she flipped upside down, round and round, and backwards. So when her friends asked if she wanted to ride Ghost Blasters, she was confident it would be fun.

Elise tapped her toes as they waited. The closer she got to the front of the line, the scarier the ride looked. It was dark inside and had creepy ghosts with gaping white faces on it. Elise tried not to feel worried, but as she buckled into the ride, she felt even worse. Her two friends were riding together, which meant she was alone. As the ride began, Elise wished that she had never agreed to go. Scary images flashed by, and she covered her eyes and started to cry.

“Elise, what’s wrong?” her friend asked as they exited the ride, noticing her wet and puffy eyes.

“I got scared,” she admitted. She paused, then gathered her courage. “Are you guys afraid of anything?”

“I’m scared of heights,” one said, wiggling her eyebrows up toward the roller coasters.

“I’m scared of snakes,” the other said, shuddering a little.

As the three friends headed back toward Brain Surge, Elise felt better, knowing that her friends were afraid sometimes too.

It takes courage to be the one to admit when we’re the one who is scared, sad, or worried about something in our life. It can be easier to ignore our feelings, especially when we don’t know how someone else will respond. Yet when we tell a friend how we truly feel—as Elise did—we’ll often find that they will admit to their own struggles. As friends, we’re asked to share each other’s burdens, helping one another feel better about the things that weigh us down. Sharing the feelings or situations that trouble us reminds us that what we face and feel are normal, and that—with friends by our side—we are never alone.

Things to Think About

• What are some of the things that worry you or make you afraid?
• Have you shared them with a friend? What was their response?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Make a list of three items or situations that scare you. Find out what scares your friends and notice what you have in common.