There is something beautiful about watching children play.
They laugh without hesitation.
They build castles out of sand.
They imagine worlds that adults have forgotten.
And then...
Something changes.
One child wanted to play one game.
The other didn’t.
It wasn’t a great conflict.
It wasn’t cruel.
It was simply two children discovering that friends don’t always want the same thing.
Within moments, hurt feelings appeared.
One was disappointed.
The other was frustrated.
For a little while, each believed the friendship itself was in danger.
Watching them, I realized that perhaps adults aren’t so different.
How often do our own minds race ahead of reality?
How quickly do we begin writing stories that haven’t happened?
“Maybe they don’t like me anymore.”
“Maybe I ruined everything.”
“Maybe this friendship is over.”
Those are the little foxes Scripture speaks about.
Not the big disasters.
The little thoughts that quietly nibble away at trust, peace, and joy.
Rather than forcing the children to “just get over it,” we did something much simpler.
We separated them for a little while.
Each child had a safe adult beside them.
There was no yelling.
No shame.
Just quiet conversations.
We reminded them that two people can love each other and still want different things.
That disappointment is part of every friendship.
That feelings are real, but they are not always the whole truth.
Little by little, their hearts softened.
Before long, they were laughing again.
Watching them reconcile reminded me how gently God often leads us.
He doesn’t shame us for our fears.
He walks beside us until fear loosens its grip.
The courage God gives us isn’t always dramatic.
Sometimes courage looks like taking one deep breath.
Listening before reacting.
Choosing forgiveness before resentment grows.
Believing a relationship is worth restoring.
Perhaps courage is not the absence of fear.
Perhaps courage is choosing love before fear gets the final word.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7
Every friendship will experience moments of misunderstanding.
Every family will have disagreements.
Every heart will be tempted to believe the worst.
May we have the courage to pause, seek understanding, and remember that love is often waiting just beyond our first reaction.
With love,
Carlene 🌿
“If this spoke to you, feel free to share or reflect quietly. I’m holding this space gently.”