Growing Pains.

Dodger:  That does it.  I'm done!  So done!  I mean, I can't be more done right now!

Lilly:  Whoa!  Dodger, what's the matter?  Why are you so freaked out?

Dodger:  Because I'm moving!

Lilly:  What? You can't be serious!

Dodger:  I am serious!  I can't believe it, but there it is.  I'm moving.

Lilly:  Where?

Dodger:  I don't know.  No one in my family seems to know.  Apparently my Dad's about to get a new job and we have to relocate.  We listed the house this morning.

Lilly:  Dodger, I...that...ah...I...

Dodger:  Just say it!  It stinks!  All my friends are here!  All my memories are here!  EVERYTHING FUN IS HERE!  Now I have to leave it all behind!

Lilly:  I'm so sorry.

Dodger:  Yeah...me too.  It's just, we've done so much together!  Now I have to just give it up?  I mean, how am I supposed to keep hanging out with you guys if I have to go somewhere else?

Lilly:  I don't know, to be honest.  I- really don't know.

Dodger:  It's really discouraging.

Lilly:  Yeah...

Dodger:  I'm calming down a little now.  Sorry for the outburst.

Lilly:  It's alright.  It's no fun, moving away, either for the person moving or for everyone who will miss him.  You can't despair, though Dodger.

Dodger:  Can't I?  I've already started.

Lilly:  No, no.  Don't give up just yet.

Dodger:  Why not?

Lilly:  Well, what if God has some plan to make this all work out?

Dodger:  That's easy to say, but much harder to believe.

Lilly:  I know.  In fact, so does the Bible.

Dodger:  What?

Lilly: Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth once about the trouble he had in a particular place. "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.  Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. (2 Corinthians 1:8-11, NKJV)"
Dodger:  Lilly, I'm moving.  Not dying.

Lilly:  I know that, but the point still stands.  Paul gave up believing that he'd even survive his troubles, and God still brought him through.  We've got to trust in him.

Dodger:  Sure, but...Lilly, not everything has a happy ending!

Lilly:  I know, Dodger, but this isn't the end.  If anything, it might be a new beginning.  Listen, God is faithful.  Even if this all results in you having to move and us not seeing much of each other anymore, at least you're in God's hands.

Dodger:  Yeah...still, that's a lot easier to say than to act out.

Lilly:  Yes it is.  I guess this is where that faith you and I talk so much about meets the road, huh?

Dodger:  I suppose so.  Well, pray for me, will you?  I really don't want to go.

Lilly:  I'll be sure to.  Hang in there, Dodger.  God's got your back, as always.

Dodger:  All right.  After all, Jesus loves us, and that's not about to change, is it?

Lilly:  Nope.  It never will.

Dodger:  Well, hopefully I'll see you all next week.

Lilly:  Yep.  See you then.

Dodger:  Okay.









(Bible translation New King James Version)