The following is a story about me. It's not exactly a
journal. And it's not really an autobiography either. I choose to see my life
as a long, cohesive story. Everything fits together, and everything is full of
meaning.
Entry 3, Part 2:
When my mom picked me up from school that day, my eyes were
still red from crying. Before she had a chance to ask me what was wrong, I
launched into an explanation of my schoolyard tragedy. My mom listened, she
hugged, she comforted. And that night, she prayed with a new earnestness that
God would provide a close friend for me. This prayer had been on her lips since
before the school year began, but that day she understood how important a friend
and companion would be for me. She could not make me good at sports like I
wanted, and she could not make other kids love me like she wanted. So she
prayed.
Every recess and every lunch period, I avoided the kickball
field. The 4-square courts are on the opposite side of the schoolyard, and
there I spent my free time. Except for that Thursday. That day, for reasons that I don't recall, I was wandering
the asphalt of the playground. While I walked aimlessly, I happened to see to
boys in my grade talking on the basketball court. One had a ball tucked beneath
his arm, and he appeared to be speaking earnestly with the other. The second
boy shook his head and walked away from the court, apparently uninterested in
playing. Dejected, the boy with the ball turned away, his head hung low.
"I'll play basketball with you", I said.
Alec and I spent the rest of the free period playing
basketball, the rest of week becoming friends, and the next 12 years as
brothers.
Ever since that day, which took place in the very same week
as my kickball catastrophe, Alec and I have remained close and dear friends. I
have been to 5 different schools, lived in 3 different cities, made many
friends, met countless acquaintances, and yet I still remember the phone number
of Alec's house in 4th grade. Though my life has changed drastically several
times over, my friendship with Alec has remained. That's not to say it has
remained constant. We have both changed and grown, the circumstances of life
have taken us to different sides of the country, but despite all that has
changed, we both remain committed to our friendship. We have carried one
another through hard times, challenged each other to seek after good things,
and we have shared more happy memories than some have in their entire lives.
And neither he, nor I, nor my mother are soon to forget that this blessing was
an answer to prayer.
