Do not neglect to meet together

Chapter 4: confrontation and comfort

Once the shock wore off, the older teens looked at each other.

"What in the world was that about? Milo's never acted like that before." Maverick pointed out. "Well, the story was really intense, do you think it scared him?" Piper asked curiously.

"I don't know; he was acting weird when we left his house earlier. When i trying to ask him about it, he just kinda brushed it off. But something is DEFINITELY bothering him..." Philip stood up. "You guys wait here, I'll go check on him." Philip walked out the meeting room.

It didn't take Philip too long before he found his cousin in front of the water fountain. The boy took several gulps of water and then took a step back until his back hit the wall; wiping his eyes on his arm as he slid to the floor and buried his face in his knees. All Philip could do was in concern at his cousin before sighing and taking a breath.

"Milo?"

Milo lifted up his head and turned to face Philip; tears welling up in his eyes. Through his tears Milo could see Philip staring at him with concern.

"P-Philip! I d-didn't see you there!" Milo jumped to his feet; wiping hard at the tears in his eyes before standing up straight. "I-I'm ok, i was j-just about to come back." Milo forced a smile, though his budding tears betrayed him. Philip said nothing as he dawned a stern, yet concerned face and walk over to Milo.

Milo let his gaze hit the floor as soon as Philip stood in front of him. The young teen clenched his eyes tight as his older cousin knelt to the ground and placed his hands on his shoulders. "Milo...what's wrong?" "I told you, I'm-"

"Milo."

Milo tensed up a bit as Philip said his name in a tone that made it clear that he didn't believe what Milo was saying.

"When we left your house this afternoon, you were dead silent after your mom made it clear that she and your dad weren't interested in going to bible study...or being a part of the faith... And now you ran out of our bible study in tears after hearing the story of Lazarus and the rich man. The story that reminds us that... this life is the only chance we have to get on the right path...and what consequences happens to those who don't live right..."

Milo lowered his head in defeat as Philip retold Milo's strange behavior during the events of the day; sensing that his cousin was putting the pieces together. Philip lifted his hand and gently cupped Milo's face; making his younger cousin look at him.

"Milo...this is more than just being sad that your parents didn't want to join bible study, isn't it? You're scared for them..."

having his fears put into words was enough to break Milo down into tears again. Pulling out of his cousin's grasp, Milo hugged himself tightly; letting his tears roll down his freckled cheeks.

"No matter what i say, my parents won't believe the truth! What do i do??? I'm so scared!"

Philip felt sadness grip his heart as he watched Milo break down in tears in front of him. After a moment of Milo silently sobbing, Philip wrapped his arms around his cousin and pulled him into a gentle hug: a gesture that Milo was extremely grateful for. Milo wrapped his arms around Philip and buried his face in his shoulder. Milo's tears soaked into the shoulder of Philip's worn out hoodie as he rambled fearfully about how scared he was for his parents and how he didn't know how to bring them to the truth; all Philip could do was hold his cousin tightly and gently rock him in hopes of comforting him.

Eventually Milo's rambles died down and his sobs turned into soft sniffles. Philip gently pulled out of the hug to look into his cousin's tear filled eyes.

"Milo, i know that this is scary, but don't get discouraged...no matter what, the best thing you can do is just continue to pray for them and share and live out your faith..." "but, what if that isn't enough to convince them?"

"Remember Milo, it's YAH'S job to bring people to the faith. It's just our job to plant seeds. Our actions are simply seeds that YAH can use to grow faith in others." Philip remind; remembering the teachings of apostle Paul. "...but... its hard being the only one in my house who's planting seeds... sometimes i feel all alone in my faith at home..." Milo admitted tearfully. "

Milo, you know you don't have to do this alone...you know that, YAH willing, I'll always be here to help you..."

"So will we..." the cousins looked up to see Maverick and Piper standing behind them.

"...how much did you guys hear?"

"Pretty much everything..." Piper admitted. Milo, though slightly embarrassed by his behavior earlier, was grateful at the siblings' willingness to help. Before he knew it, Piper and Maverick walked over and the group shared in a group hug.

"No matter what happens, no matter what we have to do, who we have to speak to, what obstacles we have to face, we face it together. With YAH as our guide and Father, because we are family in this faith." Philip promised as the group tightened their embrace on each other. And there, in the embrace of his friends and dear cousin, Milo let tears drip down his cheeks as he prayed this prayer.

"Father, you call us to be salt of the earth and light to the world. I admit this task is not always easy. It can be a very heavy task to bear...especially when it comes to sharing the truth with unbelieving loved ones. But i know that we don't bear the full burden. It is you who grows the trees... you just call us to plant seeds... Father, may you be with us as we try to plant seeds in your name... may you guide us so we can share the truth while being wise as serpents yet gentle as doves. May you use us to bring more people to the truth. And may you strengthen us through whatever discouragement we may face. In the name of your only begotten son i pray...Ahmein..."

THE END