Everyone soon noticed that I looked happier and brighter. I noticed this too. It was so fun spending time with the children. I could just goof around without worrying what anyone would think about me. Spending time with the children made me feel like I was a little child again. I also enjoyed my job as a costume designer for the play. I got the best quality products because Alfie funded most of the play. He was seriously loaded. I was very surprised at how much money we were spending just to prepare for the Christmas play. Daphne is the play director. Alfie supplies us with props. Now, Susan has given us full control over the Christmas play. I was surprised at how much we had gained her trust. Susan came to the church weekly to check on our progress.

While working with the children, I noticed that one little girl was painfully shy. I tried getting close to her, but it seemed that she was trying to push me far away from her. On Saturday, Daphne, Alfie and I were hanging out at Alfie's house, trying to unwind after working from Monday to Friday. I decided to tell them about Stephanie, the shy girl.

"I'm so glad that finally Susan has given us full control over the Christmas play", I said.

"I never thought it would be such hard work", Daphne remarked.

"But its fun too. Anyway, have you noticed anything strange about Stephanie?"

"Stephanie? Do you mean that shy girl?"

"Yes. She's the one I'm talking about. I was wondering if we could help her overcome her shyness".

"And how would we do that?"

"By letting her face her fears. She could play one of the lead roles on the play".

"Stephanie? Lead role? That's impossible. You know full well Amy's playing the lead role. I'm sure you've seen her and she's a natural", Daphne commented.

I was surprised at Daphne's reaction to my statement. Didn't she understand what I was trying to do?

"Well, she could be an understudy and..." I started to say but Daphne interrupted me.

"Haven't you seen her acting? Even in front of her friends, she's shy. How do you expect someone like that to be confident to act in front of a large audience?"

"I'm sure we can at least do something to help her", I persisted.

"You can do whatever you want to do but I'm not going to be a part of it. She's a hopeless case", Daphne said angrily.

That signalled the end of our conversation.I was confused and hurt by what Daphne said. The conversation kept replaying itself in my mind. I didn't understand what was going on. Why were Alfie and Daphne behaving like that towards me? What surprised me most was Daphne's behaviour. The more I thought of it, the more determined I was to help Stephanie overcome her shyness. I was very shy when I was Stephanie's age. I always dreaded it when I had to stand in front of my class or a large crowd. My mother noticed this and encouraged me to face my fears and soon, I overcame my shyness. Even if Stephanie didn't become the most confident girl in the world, I hoped that she would become a little more confident.

I prayed to God about everything that had happened. I decided to read the Bible to clear my thoughts a little bit. I opened the Bible app on my phone. I always read the Verse of the Day on the Bible app. That day, the Verse of the Day was Colossians 3:23.

Colossians 3:23

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.

When I finished reading the verse, it dawned on me that I was actually working for God, not people and I was supposed to work with all my heart and work to the best of my ability. With that in mind, I was more determined than ever and help make the Christmas play a success.