“Nice outfit, Chloe.”

            Chloe turned to find Taylor, one of the most popular girls in sixth grade, eyeing her. Taylor’s expression said it wasn’t a compliment. “Where’d you get it? Goodwill, or by raiding your grandmother’s closet?”

            Taylor always wore expensive clothes. It didn’t matter in elementary school, when the two girls used to play with dolls and sleep over each other’s houses. Chloe blinked hard. “I’m sorry you don’t like it.”

            Taylor’s laugh was more like a cackle. “You’re pretty brave. I wouldn’t be caught dead dressing in those secondhand clothes like you do.”

            Brianna joined in. “Yeah, and what’s with that hair? What are you, in kindergarten?”

            Chloe swallowed past the lump in her throat, clutched her books to her chest, and dashed down the hall to her next class. Taylor had been so mean to her lately. It didn’t make sense. After the last bell rang, she practically ran home to find her mother in the kitchen, pulling a batch of blueberry muffins out of the oven.

            “Ready for a snack, love?”

            Chloe poured a glass of milk and took a seat at the table, where her mother placed a fresh muffin on a plate in front of her. This was her favorite time of day. Chloe loved her little brothers, but this was girl time. The elementary school didn’t let out until 3:30, so she had a full half hour of time with her mom before they walked together to the bus stop to pick up the boys. Mom could help her figure out what was going on.

            “Taylor and another girl have been teasing me lately.” Chloe picked at the crumbs on the top of her muffin.

            “Oh, Chlo, I’m so sorry.” Mom sat across from Chloe and patted her hand. “Sometimes the kids you meet in elementary school are your friends forever, but other times, you grow apart.”

            “It’s not just growing apart, Mom. Taylor’s being mean to me.”

            “The best thing you can do is pray,” Mom said.

            “Pray she’ll leave me alone?” Chloe asked.

            “Well, you could, but I meant pray for her. That’s what God would want you to do.”

            “I guess.”

            The time ended too soon, and after picking up the boys at the bus stop, the rest of the evening passed in a blur, with dinner and Chloe’s favorite family board game.

            Later that evening, Chloe’s dad came to tuck her in. “It was a good night,” he said.

            Chloe snuggled back against her pillow. “It was.” Her dad moved to turn out the light. “Dad?”

            “Yes?”

            “Are we poor?”

            Dad moved back to Chloe’s bedside. “Why would you say that?”

            “Somebody made fun of my clothes today since they’re second hand.”

            “When you have a cousin who’s two years older, it makes sense to hand the clothes down.”
            “The other girls get to buy new clothes.”

            Dad sat on the side of the bed and stroked Chloe’s hair. “You are my princess, but no, I cannot afford to clothe you like one. Your mother and I made the decision for her to be home. Raising three kids on one salary requires some sacrifices. Would you want to babysit your brothers every afternoon until Mom got home from work?”

            Chloe shook her head, thinking of the special time she shared with her mother after school. “I don’t want Mom to go to work.”
            Dad stood. “Then you have to accept you won’t always have the latest fashions. We focus on what’s important, and that’s our family. Now get to sleep, Pumpkin.” He switched off the light and closed the door.

            Chloe pulled the covers to her chin, closed her eyes, and started her prayers. “God, thank you for my family. Thank you for giving me people who love me. Please help Taylor stop being mean to me.” She paused. “And God, please be with Taylor and help her know You better. Help me be a friend to her.”

            The next morning, Chloe and her family piled into the minivan and drove to church where they helped pack meals for the hungry. Chloe enjoyed working with her family, knowing she was doing something important. She listened to the woman in charge of the event.

            “The meals you pack today will go to a school. Our goal is for the children in the community to attend the school, where they will get an education and learn about Jesus. For most of those children, this is the only meal they’ll get all day long. Their families don’t have cars, and some of them walk several miles each day just to go to school and have a meal.”

            Chloe thought back to her talk with her dad the night before. She might not have fancy new clothes, but she had clothes that fit and kept her warm, and she never had to worry about going hungry. No, they were not poor at all.

            After the meal packing event, Chloe’s dad and brothers went to the back yard to play, while Chloe and her mom ran some errands. As they walked down the store aisle, a familiar voice hissed from behind the shelves.

            “Of course not! You’re so stupid. It’s your fault your father left us.” Footsteps rounded the corner, and Taylor’s mom stomped past, not looking their direction. A moment later, Taylor appeared, her cheeks streaked with tears. Chloe shrank back against the shelves, silently pleading for Taylor not to see them. When Taylor moved to follow her mom, Chloe stared at her mother, wide-eyed.

            “I think I know why Taylor is being mean.”

 Ephesians 4:32-5:1 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Dear God, sometimes the way people treat us has nothing to do with us. Help us to love others, even when they are unlovable. We can’t always see the hurt they carry. For those of us who have “Taylors” in our lives, please help us to treat them with loving kindness. God, help us also to remember the blessings you’ve given us. So many of us long for more, and don’t always realize how many gifts we’ve already been given. In Jesus’ name, Amen.