At lunch the next day, Will and Lilly found Jake sitting alone under the big oak tree, staring at the ground. His phone was hidden under his sleeve, but they could tell—he’d seen something.
Will and Lilly sat beside him.
Jake spoke quietly, “They made more posts… worse ones.”
Will felt his hands curl into fists. Lilly swallowed hard. Both remembered what Dad had said—eyes open, hearts soft.
“We’re with you,” Lilly said gently.
“But they’ll just keep coming after me—and probably you too,” Jake replied.
Will looked around at the noisy schoolyard. He noticed the laughter didn’t sound the same as it used to. Some kids weren’t just being silly—they were fueled by something meaner, colder.
“Jake, we’re not gonna leave you alone in this,” Will said. “But maybe there’s a smarter way.”
That night, they brought it up again at home. Their parents listened carefully.
“You’re stepping into the real world now,” their dad said. “And the real world doesn’t always play fair.”
“But we don’t want to fight them,” Lilly added quickly.
Their mom smiled. “Good. Because the fight isn’t against them—it’s for them. And for Jake.”
Their dad nodded. “Sometimes being brave is sitting beside someone who’s hurting. Sometimes, it’s speaking up. And sometimes… it’s waiting for the right moment to act.”
“What should we do tomorrow?” Will asked.
“Let’s pray about that,” their mom said. “And remember—Jesus didn’t back down but never lost His love for people. Not even the ones nailing Him to the cross.”
Later that night, Will and Lilly knelt by their beds. “Lord,” Will whispered, “help us know when to stand tall and when to stand quiet.”
The next day, Will and Lilly didn’t charge in headfirst at school. Instead, they sat with Jake again and observed. They noticed which kids laughed… but also saw others who didn’t.
Quietly, Lilly leaned over. “Not everyone agrees with them.”
Will nodded. “We just need to find them.”
The quiet fight had begun—not a battle against people but against the darkness creeping into hearts. And Will and Lilly were ready, walking carefully and loving boldly.
Parents or Young Readers: Have you discussed these two critical issues—how to fight for others without becoming part of the fight and stand firm without becoming bitter? Thankfully, Will and Lilly have well-balanced parents rooted in their relationship with Jesus and building their lives on the Rock, not the sand.
Comments