A Beautiful Answer to Prayer

My daughter gives permission to share the following true story that just delights me:

I'm tucking my daughter in bed, and she opens up and starts crying about how nobody plays with her at recess.  She spends the time walking alone around the school track with her head buried in her coat.

She's not athletic and still enjoys imagination games, and unfortunately, she can't find friends her age in those categories.  And when she tries to join a group of girls, they are gossiping and using bad language.  They don't let her in their circle.  

"What can I do, Mom?"  She feels so lonely and so rejected.

"How should we pray about it?  What do you want to ask God for?"  My heart aches, and I fight tears. 

"Just one friend.  Just one little girl who wants to be friends with me tomorrow."  So we bow our heads and ask God to send a friend.

The next morning, I pray for my daughter. The Bible verse in Hebrews 1:9 comes to mind each time I start to ask God for help:

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
   therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
   by anointing you with the oil of joy.

I pray the whole morning that God would simply anoint my precious daughter with the oil of joy.  Bring her joy.  Bring her joy.  Bring her joy.

That afternoon, she bursts out of the school doors and reports that a new little girl came to find her at recess.  "She wants to become my friend, and we played the whole time!"

"What is her name?" I ask.

"Her name is Joy."

The Lord brought Joy indeed. 

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Do you have a great answer to prayer to share today?