Anna’s Bright Light
In the charming Little Town, a loving girl named Anna faces a challenge when she desires to befriend the popular kids at school. Will she change herself to fit in, or will she discover the wisdom in staying true to who she is?
In a town not very far from here, lived a girl named Anna. She was the kindest, most joyful, loving girl you have ever met.
Anna grew up in a Christian home with her parents, who always reminded her that her kindness, joyfulness and love was a gift from God.
But something was bothering Anna. For you see, she realized that some of the kids at school seemed to be more popular than others. They wore the trendiest clothes, talked about the coolest new toys, and always seemed to be the center of attention, and Anna wanted that too.
One day, as Anna sat in the lunchroom having her lunch, Clara, one of the most popular girls in the school, complimented her on her “very fashionable” lunchbox and invited her to come and sit with her and her friends at their table. Anna was so excited that her heart was pounding in her chest.
Anna made her way over to their table, but didn’t quite expect that there would be rules being with the popular kids; - If you want to hang out with us, you will have to act cool, dress cool, and definitely stop playing with those friends, said Clara.
Anna’s heart dropped and thought about her friends, Emma and Lucy. They weren't as popular as Clara and her friends, but they were always kind and fun to be around. Anna felt a little torn. She wanted to be with the popular kids, but she didn't want to leave her old friends behind.
Back home after school, Anna was talking to her mom about it. - Mom, Anna said, I want to be friends with the popular kids. They are so amazing, but they say I have to act cooler and stop being friends with Emma and Lucy. I don’t know what to do. Her mom smiled softly and said, - Anna, do you remember what we talk about at church?
- God made you just the way you are for a reason. Trying to change yourself to fit in with others won’t make you happy. Remember what the Bible says in Matthew 5:16, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Being kind, loving, and true to yourself is the brightest light you can share with the world.
The next day at school, as Anna was walking to the lunchroom, she bumped into Clara, who invited her to sit with her group again today. - But remember, Clara whispered, you can't be friends with Emma and Lucy if you want to be part of our group, they aren’t cool enough.
Anna felt nervous. But then she remembered what her mom had said about being herself and shining her light. She took a deep breath, smiled kindly at Clara and said, - I like being friends with Emma and Lucy because they're kind, and they make me happy. I don’t feel that I need to change who I am to be their friend.
Anna made her way to where Emma and Lucy were seated in their usual spot. The three friends had their lunch together while laughing, joking and having fun. Anna felt a peaceful joy in her heart, knowing she made the right choice.
Anna continued to be herself—kind, loving, and true to the goodness God had placed in her heart. She didn't need to be cool to be happy. And her light, the one that came from being who God made her to be, shined brighter than ever.
As time went on, more and more kids wanted to join Anna, Emma, and Lucy’s group of friends. They had created a group of friends who cared about each other, not because of what they wore or how cool they seemed, but because they were kind, friendly, and full of love.
Anna learned that the best way to be happy was to trust in God's love and let her light shine. And she never forgot what her mom had told her: when you're kind and true to yourself, that's when your light shines the brightest.
In a town not very far from here, lived a girl named Anna. She was the kindest, most joyful, loving girl you have ever met.
Anna grew up in a Christian home with her parents, who always reminded her that her kindness, joyfulness and love was a gift from God.
But something was bothering Anna. For you see, she realized that some of the kids at school seemed to be more popular than others. They wore the trendiest clothes, talked about the coolest new toys, and always seemed to be the center of attention, and Anna wanted that too.
One day, as Anna sat in the lunchroom having her lunch, Clara, one of the most popular girls in the school, complimented her on her “very fashionable” lunchbox and invited her to come and sit with her and her friends at their table. Anna was so excited that her heart was pounding in her chest.
Anna made her way over to their table, but didn’t quite expect that there would be rules being with the popular kids; - If you want to hang out with us, you will have to act cool, dress cool, and definitely stop playing with those friends, said Clara.
Anna’s heart dropped and thought about her friends, Emma and Lucy. They weren't as popular as Clara and her friends, but they were always kind and fun to be around. Anna felt a little torn. She wanted to be with the popular kids, but she didn't want to leave her old friends behind.
Back home after school, Anna was talking to her mom about it. - Mom, Anna said, I want to be friends with the popular kids. They are so amazing, but they say I have to act cooler and stop being friends with Emma and Lucy. I don’t know what to do. Her mom smiled softly and said, - Anna, do you remember what we talk about at church?
- God made you just the way you are for a reason. Trying to change yourself to fit in with others won’t make you happy. Remember what the Bible says in Matthew 5:16, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Being kind, loving, and true to yourself is the brightest light you can share with the world.
The next day at school, as Anna was walking to the lunchroom, she bumped into Clara, who invited her to sit with her group again today. - But remember, Clara whispered, you can't be friends with Emma and Lucy if you want to be part of our group, they aren’t cool enough.
Anna felt nervous. But then she remembered what her mom had said about being herself and shining her light. She took a deep breath, smiled kindly at Clara and said, - I like being friends with Emma and Lucy because they're kind, and they make me happy. I don’t feel that I need to change who I am to be their friend.
Anna made her way to where Emma and Lucy were seated in their usual spot. The three friends had their lunch together while laughing, joking and having fun. Anna felt a peaceful joy in her heart, knowing she made the right choice.
Anna continued to be herself—kind, loving, and true to the goodness God had placed in her heart. She didn't need to be cool to be happy. And her light, the one that came from being who God made her to be, shined brighter than ever.
As time went on, more and more kids wanted to join Anna, Emma, and Lucy’s group of friends. They had created a group of friends who cared about each other, not because of what they wore or how cool they seemed, but because they were kind, friendly, and full of love.
Anna learned that the best way to be happy was to trust in God's love and let her light shine. And she never forgot what her mom had told her: when you're kind and true to yourself, that's when your light shines the brightest.
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