Tammy
It all started with a Casting Crowns song.
My daughter and I were sitting in the truck the other night, waiting for my youngest daughter to get done with gymnastics. We were talking about wanting to see Casting Crowns in concert, because we both LOVE their music. I plugged my iPod in and we started listening to the song “Does Anybody Hear Her?” I told my daughter that this was one of my favorite songs because the lyrics really stir something up inside of me.
We sat and listened to it and it reminded me of this post I had read earlier in the day over at Heart Cries. I told my daughter the story that had unfolded in that blog post, and she was amazed at what happened in that church. We made some small talk about it, and the conversation ended.
Fast forward to last night.
I picked my kids up last night… youngest from AWANA, and oldest from church youth group. Oldest daughter was visibly upset. When I asked her what was wrong, she kept replying “nothing. I’m fine.”
When we got home and started walking into the house, I simply told her “You can always talk to me. If you need me for anything, just let me know.”
Her response? “If you keep talking to me, you’re just going to make me cry.”
Um, WHAT? Anyone that knows me in real life, will know that I don’t let things like this go. I’m the mom that is persistent, naggy and all up in your grill when I sense something is wrong.
I went down to her room and saw her sitting on her bed, working on homework. I could tell she was crying, and so I walked over to sit next to her. Again, I asked what was wrong, and she replied “I don’t know how to tell you.”
Again… um, WHAT?
After lots of back and forth dialogue of “What’s wrong?” and her replying “Nothing” over and over, I finally got it out of her.
She told me that at youth group, they played that same Casting Crowns song we had been listening to just a couple nights before. She said it made her think of the story I had told her. She said she immediately thought of a girl at school, whom we’ll call Tammy. Tammy is in the 8th grade like my daughter. Tammy comes from a very poor family, doesn’t have a lot of friends, and she sits alone at lunch every day.
My daughter said that her and her friends decided a couple weeks ago to try and become friends with Tammy. She showed me some conversations on Facebook they have had with Tammy, asking her to sit with them at lunch.
But Tammy has refused, saying she is uncomfortable in crowds. Instead she sits at a lunch table by herself, doing her homework. My daughter said they very rarely see Tammy even eating lunch. She usually just has school books with her.
My daughter cried as she told me that she feels that she needs to do something, especially after hearing that song, and after hearing the story over at Heart Cries.
But she doesn’t know what to do.
We sat and talked about it, and finally settled on something to try. She is going to go to school this morning, and talk to her group of friends. They are going to decide on two of them to go sit with Tammy at lunch today. We decided that maybe instead of pouncing on her as a group of 8, a couple of them sitting with her wouldn’t make her feel so overwhelmed.
I’m anxious to hear how things go today with Tammy. I had a hard time keeping from crying last night as I sat there and listened to my daughter. She has such a good heart, and I admire her for reaching out to people as she feels called to do.
Today, I sit here and realize how much I want to be like my daughter. Honestly, if I was in the same situation– would I have acted as she did? Would I have made an effort to include someone that looked left out? I know I wouldn’t have done it when I was 8th grade, but even now, WOULD I?
She amazes me.
Every.
Single.
Waking.
Moment.
By Rebekah, March 4, 2010 @ 10:22 AM
I love to see God moving in our teenagers. They are wonderfully passionate people that have the ability to jump in with both feet, without having to analyze the details.
I’m anxious to hear how things go with, Tammy, too!
By AmyLK, March 4, 2010 @ 10:43 AM
Your daughter and her friends sound like wonderful kids. Not like I remember when I was in 8th grade. I hope they are successful in becoming Tammy’s friend.
AmyLK´s last blog ..I Got Nothin’
By tamara b, March 5, 2010 @ 12:26 PM
Wow, that is so cool, I’m excited to hear how it went. Having just read the most recent post first, of course this story of befriending a kid makes me think of that exact bible verse – God says doing for the least of these is doing for Him… how cool is that!?!?
By brainella, March 6, 2010 @ 9:10 PM
That is one incredible child you have there. Give her a hug from me.
brainella´s last blog ..Friday Fragments