Friendship for Girls: Teaching Healthy Habits to Our DaughtersChikamu

Work at Peace

Jade was on the phone with a friend who said unkind things about another girl in their class. She listened for a few minutes, then made a half-hearted, not-so-nice comment about the other girl too.

As she hung up the phone, her mom called her into the next room. “What’s going on?” her mom asked as she sat down next to her. Jade’s shoulders fell as she explained. “Two girls in my class are fighting.”

The one she had spoken to on the phone had told the other girls in their class that they shouldn’t be friends with the third girl. Jade wasn’t sure what to do. Feeling pressured, she’d joined in, saying something unkind, even though she knew it wasn’t right. Tears sprang to her eyes as she felt the weight of regret for what she’d said. Her mom gave her a hug and told her she could understand the confusion Jade felt. “The next time you get in a situation like that, try to be a peacemaker. Let the other girls know you want to be friends with both of them, and you won’t listen to either girl talk badly about the other.”

It isn’t always easy to find a perfect solution, but as peacemakers, we can try to build a bridge of friendship among others. Scripture tells us God blesses us when we seek peace, and that we will be called children of God when we do so. When girls we know aren’t getting along, we can be the ones to bring peace by not joining in or speaking badly about others and by befriending those who may be left out.

Parent Conversation Starter

Share a time you were a peacemaker at church, work, or a volunteer setting. Discuss additional ways we can cultivate peace with the people around us. 

Things to Think About

Have you ever had friends or classmates who didn’t get along? How was the situation resolved?

How can you be a peacemaker when others are fighting or being mean to one another? (Think about what kind of things make someone a good peacemaker. Not gossiping or saying unkind things about either person, not taking sides, being a good listener and supporter of both people—all are examples of ways that we can be peacemakers.)

Daily Act of Friendship

When you see two people who aren’t getting along, take one action step to be a peacemaker between them.