There is a feeling of worth in being included.  When a person is asked to be a part of a group, it can be empowering.  This is especially true when one is a stranger and is acknowledged by people and welcomed into the fold of a community.

In contrast, never being included has the opposite effect.  When a child is a new student in a school, not being included can be devastating.  However, if a conscious effort is made to make that student feel welcome, that student can relax and make new friends.

There are some schools that have “buddy benches” on the playground, where new students can sit and other students can join them to make them feel welcome.  What a fabulous idea!

But it is also important to remember that a new member of a group of any kind can be difficult for many people.  It depends on one’s personality and their ability to connect.  Shy people can find it difficult to join in especially if they are not being invited or in some way acknowledged first.

I used to be shy and I would never have voluntarily joined a group that did not invite my presence.  In fact, I may even have avoided contact with a group for fear of being rejected.  Not so today, I am happy to say.  But it can be horrible for a person who is not welcomed.

In my church, they are especially friendly.  However, occasionally I notice someone whom I have never seen at the service I attend, sit alone and I always approach them.  Welcoming a person into the fold is a powerful thing.  Even if they are just visiting or passing through our city, being included for just a little while can have a positive effect.