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b'Out of habit, her eyes swept the crowded cafeteria, but not one familiar face registered from the blur of morning classes. Starting over was always this way, especially in a large school. Two girls, hovered in a private conversation, ignored Rox as she approached their table. She dropped her pack and sighed. She hated moving, but that was military life. She nibbled on a granola bar, not to make it last but because there was nothing else to do.\\nGroups clumped together, and the room buzzed. Rox shuddered\\u2014as if a spotlight had singled her out, the only person in the room sitting alone\\u2014and swallowed her last bite. She crumpled the wrapper, thankful for something to do, and walked to the trash can.\\n\\u201cChin up. Change is hard. There\\u2019s more ahead. New friends.\\u201d Rox blinked back tears. Her positive self-talk couldn\\u2019t crack the loneliness. She breathed a prayer\\u2014Lord, help me. Rox tossed the wrapper and turned back to the table where now only one girl remained with her head bent, shoulders hunched. The girl looked up, her eyes brimmed with water.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153You okay?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Rox slid next to her.\\nA tear escaped before the girl\\u2019s face hardened. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Yeah. I\\u2019m fine.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Sorry. I\\u2019m not trying to nose in.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Rox pulled a tissue from her pack. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Your mascara.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Thanks.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d The girl dabbed under her eyes. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I haven\\u2019t seen you before.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d \\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Yeah. It\\u2019s my first day. I\\u2019m Rox.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153And I\\u2019m Kate.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nA buzzer blared, lunch period ended, and the girls stood. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Hope things go better.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Rox picked up her pack. Kate\\u2019s eyes filled, and she nodded and left.\\nAs Rox joined the crush of students filing out of the cafeteria, she straightened her shoulders and stepped into the hallway with confidence. She wasn\\u2019t alone. The hall was jammed with students, each with a story and struggle. She breathed another prayer: \\u201cJesus, thank You for the opportunity to show Your love to others. Thank You for being with me.\\u201d \\u2022 Gretchen Carlson\\n\\u2022 Reread today\\u2019s verses. What are you struggling with right now? What doesn\\u2019t God know about you or your situation? \\n\\u2022 In Christ, we are never alone (Matthew 28:20). If your faith is in Christ, why can you bring any request and hurt to Him (Hebrews 4:14-16)? \\nEven there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10 (NKJV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nRomans 12:3-8'