My greatest failure is one that I am ashamed of and
it makes me cringe. I would go back in a heart beat to change this epic
fail in my life. It all started back in
elementary school and sadly went on all through middle school and high school.

A child of God whom was equal to the rest of us was
put through miserable years of school. A child of God who was made in the
Fathers unique image was cut down. She was made fun of and talked about
behind her back. She was judged and was an outcast to the rest of the kids.
This horrendous act by these kids went on through this girls whole school
years. She was never given a chance to be loved and accepted from these
kids.

I shamefully admit that this girl only lives around
the corner from me. A 20 second driving distance, .4 miles in walking distance
and she's my neighbor. I went to school with this girl from 4^th
grade to my senior year of high school. I am embarrassed to admit that I would
talk about this girl behind her back. I would have birthday parties with girls
from school but never invite her. I made unfair judgments about a
beautiful child of God.

The judgments of elementary and middle school years
followed her. They followed her like a plague. It didn't take long for the other
students who didn't even know her in high school to form the same opinions. The
same familiar unfair treatment was back
and lasted her whole high school years. Everyone would not give her the time of
the day.

Through all these years I always had this gut
wrenching feeling in my stomach when I would hear kids saying mean things about
this girl. I would even partake in making fun of her but I felt horrible
afterwards. I did it to fit in with the crowd. The greatest failure of all this
is I did not stand up for her. I would
regretfully just stand there quietly while she was being picked on. I
did not lend out a hand to a hurting beautiful child of God.

What did she do wrong? What did she do to deserve
this treatment? Why would I allow people around me to say terrible things about
her and not stand up for her? Why would I not include her? She was hurting and
trying to fit in yet I never gave her a chance to be my friend.

It was not till last year when I decided enough was
enough. God was speaking to me, telling
me to reach out to her. God was telling me to stick up for her and to encourage her!

God worked on a major failure in my life and still
is. I am reaching out to this girl, I am trying to reach out to her and give
her the treatment and friendship that she truly deserves. My eyes have truly
been opened to this and people like this girl I am drawn too. I am not
going to sit quiet anymore when I hear gossip
about other beautiful children of God.

God has put another girl on my heart to get to know who
is just like the girl who I had grown up with. A similar situation and this
time I will not back down and fall in with the crowd. I will stand up
for this Beautiful Child of God!