No Coincidence, Only God.

Who would know that meeting your friend would change your life? I know for sure now that meeting Clara wasn’t a coincident. I didn’t know at that time how much she would change my life.

It all began just as I started high school. I had just moved from across town and enrolled into Aspect High School. Being a cheerful and friendly student back in Arizona, I had thought that it would be easy to fit in. I was wrong. Cold hard stares penetrated my heart as I stepped into the school. I shivered despite the warm weather and hurriedly set of to find my class. “It couldn’t have been worse.” I thought. Little did I know how much more I had to suffer soon before meeting Clara.

Here I am, a year later. I still hadn’t made any friends and was severely depressed. I had been labeled as an outcast. I wanted people to like me, not hate me. The hurt was so bad in me that I had to take sleeping pills to sleep. I didn’t have anyone to share my secret with. “There’s no point in living anymore.” I muttered under my breath. I stepped into the school, still thinking deeply when suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. I whirled around to see a smiling newbie.

“Hi! I’m Clara.” She greeted me with a grin. “I just moved here and wondered if you could show me around!” Her angelic smile made me forget my troubles for the moment. Then I smiled for the first time in a long while as I looked at Clara. “Sure! Why not?” I replied her. I introduced myself as we walked towards our class.

As our friendship grew, we learnt more and more about each other. Clara was a devoted Christian and was always singing praises to God. She goes to church every chance she got and was settling in well. Clara had invited me to her church a number of times but I had refused. I told her that I wasn’t free, but she never got angry at me and said it was alright. I didn’t tell her the actual reason, I just couldn’t. The truth was that I didn’t even have my own religion. It suddenly hit me like a battering ram when Clara had first invited me to church. “It doesn’t matter,” trying to convince myself to shake the cold feeling of. But I knew that Clara wouldn’t stop trying to get me to church.

Time flew by and our friendship blossomed. She was there when my dog died. I was there when her brother got sick. We couldn’t be separated. If you called one, you get both. We were always together. Only one thing kept us apart; church. I was still running away, but Clara never gave up. She kept inviting me, but I wasn’t ready. Not yet anyway.
One day, I walked into the school trembling and pale. Clara noticed immediately and was concerned. I was in to much shock to answer her questions. It’s amazing how she seem to understand and stop bombarding me with questions. After school ended, I was calmer and she decided to ask me what happened.

“Are you ok Chris?” She asked me softly at the school garden. “You looked so pale back there. Is everything at home ok?” I knew that Clara had meant well. But the shock was still too great for me to handle. Abut after a lot of persuading, I told Clara the devastating news.

“Clara,” I whispered softly. “My parents are getting divorce. What am I going to do? I might have to move away from here? I don’t want to leave.” After breaking the news, I started sobbing uncontrollably.

Clara was at loss for words. For the next few days, I was inconsolable. I wouldn’t talk, I wouldn’t smile. I didn’t know at that time that my parents needed my support and love. I just didn’t want to live anymore. Clara grew more and more worried as she watched me crumble. Her smile never disappeared, but it was always accompanied by a frown. One day, she decided to take action after seeing me refusing to eat.

“Come on,” she pleaded, holding on to my hand. “Just this once. Please?” Clara had come over to my house and whisked me out. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the church. I had pulled back in surprise, jerking Clara back with me as she held my hand. “Please Chris,” she pleaded again. I finally consented.

Just as we stepped into the church, Pre-prayer service had just ended and Clara pulled me to the front row. Just as we put out bags down, the worship band had started playing. The music was loud and all the people around me was singing along with the band. Everyone jumped up and down in excitement as they sang praises to God. I could see everyone smiling.

“Why is everyone to happy?” I wondered. “Anyone would have thought they had won a lottery ticket.” Beside me, Clara was lifting her hand up in worship as she sang. After the worship and a few other interesting announcements, new comers were asked to stand up. Clara nudged me up and everyone welcomed me warmly. When the ordeal was over, Reverend David took over and I understood a little better at why Clara was always so happy.
“God loves you no matter who you are,” he stated. “No matter who you are or what you are inside. No matter how lonesome or how popular you are, how happy or devastated, God will always love you whether you want Him or not. Some of you here might be considering taking your life. I’ll say this to you all, your body doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to God. It doesn’t matter whose life you’re taking. As long as it’s life, you have sinned. Don’t disappoint God. He molded us and delivered us into the world. He created you to smile, not to frown, to strive, and not to fail. Everyone here has the potential to do something, just as long as you do something about it.” After saying all this, Reverend David started praying.

Even after Reverend David had finished praying and everyone had started moving towards the refreshment corner, I still sat confused and dazed at the message that was just shared. I suddenly felt Clara embrace me and started praying for me. I couldn’t take it any longer, and I broke down crying. Clara simply continued embracing me and praying for me.
As I was drying my eyes, Clara told me about the perfect sacrifice, Jesus, who was God’s only son. Reverend David joined us when Clara had told me Jesus had died for all our sins. I wanted to know more.

“Clara told me everything.” Reverend David suddenly broke in. “She was so worried about you and prayed for you everyday.” Then he proceeded to tell me everything I wanted to know about God. Why He sent Jesus to die for us, how he created us. “God created us all for a purpose,” bring the discussion to an end. “You might not know why now, but I’m sure you will find your purpose soon.” I felt an overwhelming sense of peace in me suddenly. I decided to make a decision that I never regretted until this day. I wanted to be a Christian.

My life was never the same then. I soon got over the shock of my parents divorce and live day by day knowing the truth that God loves me. I started smiling again. I praised God when my parents suddenly decided not to separate and my grades improved tremendously. Clara was delighted at my change and the bond of our friendship strengthened. We went to church every chance we got and began to shine brightly. Our school mates were amazed and started asking us the secret to our long lasting friendship and happiness. Aspect High School was never the same then. All it took was for two girls to share the gospel. The students began to smile and laugh and the teachers began relaxing their standards and start smiling.

Was meeting Clara a coincident? Definitely not. Clara would always be my best friend and sister. She changed my life and took me under her wings. Sure God might throw me some tough challenges, but I’ve learnt to get up and learn from that experience. My faith never wavered, and I never once doubted God. God made sure everything would turn out right. Never a fault and never a mistake. It all depends on the way you handle it and whether you have true friends standing by you. If it wasn’t for Clara, I might not have gotten a second chance.

Remember, God loves us all. He will never forsake us. He molded is the way he wanted and delivered us into the world. We should bless God in return by listening to Him. It’s all in His hands.