Change

Manuel's sneakers squeaked as he dragged his feet across the kitchen linoleum. Dad looked up from the pot he was stirring on the stove. "Looks like you had a rough day."Dad brought him his favorite after-school snack--cookies and a glass of milk. Manuel took a bite of his cookie and made a face. "Hey, Dad, these don't taste the same," he said.Dad looked at the box in surprise. "Maybe they changed the recipe."Manuel pushed his plate away and slid lower into his seat. "Why can't things just stay the same? Why do they all have to change?"Dad set the box aside and leaned his elbows on the counter. "Sounds like you're talking about more than just your snack," he said, concerned. "What's going on?"Manuel swallowed around the lump in his throat that had been there all day. "Josh is moving to another state. He's been my best friend since kindergarten, and now I have to go to middle school without him!"Dad frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're going to miss him a lot, aren't you?" Manuel nodded. "And you're worried about how different middle school is going to be from elementary school?" Manuel nodded again. "It's normal to miss your friend and be worried about a new school," continued Dad. "But change is a part of life. One thing will never change, though."Manuel liked how that sounded--one thing that he could always count on to stay the same. "What is it, Dad?" he asked eagerly.Dad grinned. "God. The Bible tells us that God never changes. Jesus is always with us, and His love for us never wavers. We can always count on Him to be there, no matter what happens."Manuel felt the lump in his throat shrinking. "That's good.""So when you feel overwhelmed, you can talk to Jesus about it and know that He'll be there with you.""Thanks, Dad," Manuel said, feeling a little better. He would still miss Josh, but at least he wouldn't have to go to middle school alone. Jesus would be there with him. Manuel took a cookie and dunked it in his glass of milk. His eyes lit up. "Hey, these aren't so bad after all!" –Christa Hogan