Make the Circle Larger

When the girls in the neighborhood decided to form a swimming club during summer vacation they were on the "outs" with Beth. So they didn't invite her to join them. At first Beth was utterly crushed. As far as she was concerned this was the end of the world for her.

Every time she saw the gang head for the lake she thought she felt something drop out of her life. She tried
hard not to let the girls know just how badly hurt she was. But each day as the summer progressed her spirit went down a little bit more. It looked like a long, dry summer ahead.

Then one day she came upon a poem by Edwin Markham called "Outwitted," which told of how someone had
drawn a circle which left the poet out. So he drew a larger circle and included those who would cut him out. Why couldn't Beth do that? She could and she did.

With her mother's help she planned the most "super" party of the entire summer and invited the members of the club along with some other girls. By this time the club girls were beginning to feel pretty much ashamed of themselves anyway and they were glad to accept her invitation. It was a grand party, and all had a wonderful time.

Someone always has to take the first step to right a wrong or to clear up a misunderstanding. One of the club girls should have done it, but none of them had the courage to mention it. What Beth did was not entirely selfish, for they all felt better after she took the proper action. No one likes to be excluded from the gang. When we are not a part of the circle they make, ask God how you can draw another larger circle that will include him, too.