Day 03: Cara and the Rain Man

Posted by: Jayna

Cara and Howard have been good friends since 2nd grade. Now that they're in high school, Cara has become an attractive young lady who gets a lot of attention. Her friendship with Howard hasn't changed, until he started to become possessive and jealous. Howard even called and asked her out, but Cara really doesn't see him as boyfriend material. So what does she do? Where is the discipleship in this scenario?

I believe the discipleship is in the friendship. It's the trust and respect that is already there. I believe that we cross each other's paths for a reason, even if we don't realize it for years. In every relationship we have, good or bad, there are things to be learned. People change and people make mistakes. How you respond to those mistakes is a test of your character as well as the persons who made them. 

The discipleship is also in the way that each person involved responds to one another and the situation. Cara could easily write Howard off, and go gossip about him to her other friends, making him the laughing stock of the school. She could say yes, just to be nice, and end up miserable. She could say yes, just to be nice, and end up happily ever after. She could say no, let him down easy and remain friends. He could flip out, and never talk to her again. He could be sad, but not want to lose a friendship. He could apologize for being rude, and ask forgiveness. So many different scenarios could be played out. 

Sometimes people change for the better. Sometimes for the worse. As disciples, we still need to forgive them, to let go of their wrongs, and realize we're in need of forgiveness as much as they are. And, as hard as it may be, sometimes those people are branches that need to be pruned out of our lives. If we let them stay, they can become poison to our roots and make us wither into someone God never created us to be. 

Our roots need to be planted in God, through Him we can grow and become the beautiful things we are meant to be. 

How would you respond? Would you be able to forgive and forget? Would you be able to let go of a poisonous relationship?

John 15: 5-8
⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."