Chelsey and I have been friends since grade seven. I had already known of her for a year before that but we never really got acquainted until a year after she came to my school. I didn't even know she wasn't a Christian until a little while after having met her. The day I found out she wasn't a believer, it shocked me. Probably because she was really my first friend who didn't go to church. I had prayed to God that I wanted a friend who wasn't a Christian and his answer was Chelsey.Little did I know just what I was in for.
Lets fast forward to grade eleven now. One year away from graduating. It was after school and I had let my sisters start walking home with out me. I liked to hang around with some friends before beginning the half hour walk home and I also loved walking alone. Chelsey was the last friend to be picked up that day. Her Mom was working and was going to be by later to get her. As a good friend that I try to be I stayed put and we just chatted. Mostly about girl stuff. It was around Easter time and that is where our conversation sort of stumbled on to.
My friend Chelsey, her father claims atheism and she sort of does to. I really don't know what she believes but she has made it clear in the past that it is not Jesus. Nor in another "god" of any kind.
Our conversation stumbled on to the coming of the Easter holiday. We talked about the traditions we each had in our family, it was clear my family celebrated more then hers, which makes sense, Easter has more meaning to me. That's when she asked the question,
"What is the whole point of easter, it can't just be a holiday about chocolate and bunnies and chicks."
Now just imagine how excited I am after hearing that question, after all, maybe this was the day I had been waiting for, I had already been praying for her for around five years at this point and never before had I had such an opportunity. She had come to youth with me twice before this day and both times she ended up in the hall waiting to go home as "bored" as ever. She hadn't appreciated the message and worship as much as I had hoped she would. she loved the games. One of the two times she got taped to a pole, that was definitely a highlight. My friends still talk about it to this day. I had also had some brief opportunities to just let my light shine, as we just lived life together. Just through making different choices then the others and things like that. But this was the first real conversation and sadly also my last with her when it came to the gospel.
So having heard her question, and out of excitement, I proceeded to give her the gospel, asking God for the words to say right away. I even considered running to my locker to get my Bible but i didn't have much time. So I began at the beginning. I told her Easter was about Jesus dying for us. He suffered for us and died on a cross, was beaten tortured, and then killed. I then told her that three days later he rose again. That he came to die so that we may have life. I brought Christmas in to the discussion as well, why Christmas is so important to us. She didn't say much after that, just nodded her head. Her Mom came soon after that and she got up as I began my long walk home. I had a lot to think about.
In some ways I wish I could have said more. That was my first and last conversation about the gospel that I ever had the opportunity to give her. I don't even get to see her much anymore, mostly I just chat with her on facebook every once in a while. She is living on the Island and attending University to become a nurse. All through out Highschool she hung around with a group of Christian girls. My prayer for her is that as she is going to school and living in a dorm, that she has found another group of strong Christian girls to hang around with her who might continue to plant seeds and water the ones my friends and I planted those six years we were friends with her in High School. I know I could of said more if I had had more time, I wish I had. But I know that God knows exactly what she needs to hear and when. If she needs to hear more, he will provide the opportunity for her to hear it. If it is me that is awesome, if it is somone else that is also amazing. As long as she hears the message she needs to hear.
I know I did what I can do, I told her the message, I used the few opportunities I had. Now I must let God work in her life. He Changed Paul's life, something that must of been seen as impossible to the people that watched him kill Christitans. I know my God can work miracles, and he does. My job now is to keep praying fervently. I must not give up, Chelsey's life is at stake after all. Her's As well as so many others in this world that I know she will reach.
