The Strength to Stand and Endure

        Everyone knows that stability is important... well, I thought everyone did. Knowing who is around you, what is expected of you, and where you are going to be all give people a sense of security and a sense of peace. Especially when it comes to children. One of the things that frustrates me more than anything working in the inner city is the mobility. My students come and go (I have literally had pages of students transferred in and out of my class just this year), sometimes only staying in the same school for three months. We never know if we'll see our kids at church again, or if we've seen them for the last time. Case in point:
         One of our awesome kids on the basketball team that we coach has really been starting to come around. He has a bit of a "personality," but knowing what he's coming from, he's a great kid. We've been working with mom to get a bed for him, because they were looking to move into a new place and he's been sleeping on the couch for years now. He spent all day Saturday with us, going to a local state park for a festival. Sunday, after his bball game, he told us he didn't have any food at the house and wanted us to try to get him some. We sent him home with the leftovers from that day, and brought more hot food to him Monday.
         When we went to pick him up on Thursday, no one was there. No phone call, letting us know where to pick him up. No address as to where to drop his bed off to him. Nothing.
         This is where I have to check my spirit. Am I upset because we've been working with him and now he's gone? Because I may never get to see the fruit truly blossom? Sure, those are in the mix, but I'm truly sad for kids like this. I see it way too often. Every relationship they've built, ever success felt is suddenly left behind for a fresh start. I'm believing that his mom is trying to do well for him. Hopefully she'll come to church Sunday, let us know how to get the bed to her, and let him finish out the last two games of his basketball season.
       But more often than not, we see constant upheaval in these kids' lives. They come and go, and sometimes come back. I know that all that I can do is my best when they're with me, and pray for them once they're gone. But there has to be more.
        Merriam-Webster defines stability as "the strength to stand or endure." If you don't know where your food is coming from, or where you're going to live, if all of the friendships you've made have been suddenly torn apart, how can you be expected to have a healthy, growing existence? I know that a lot more goes into these decisions to move- finances, family life, adult relationships (or the downward spiral of the same), and so much more. It just isn't healthy.
      So, talk without solutions is a moot point, I know. I don't think parents in these situations are choosing to hurt their kids, or that they even realize they're doing it. Maybe the removal from the original situations is doing more good than the move does damage, but at the rate that it happens, I doubt that's the case. I think the best solution is to form relationships with these parents. Help them to learn to face problems and deal with them, not run from them. Working with parents to help them understand how their actions affect the kids, to get help when they need it, and to do what they need to do in order to secure their family's stability is going to be the best way to provide kids with the strength to stand and endure.

It's a sign of the times!

   I concede... I've held out for a long while, but I am finally starting a blog. No guarantees about how often I will post, and I honestly don't even care if anyone reads it, but if you read this, I hope you enjoy it!!

   Please call me on anything you disagree with. I love good conversations that push me further, and constructive feedback is more than welcome. I know that you'll disagree with me from time to time... that's why God is so awesome! I love how He draws us closer to Him through the differences we see in one another. Can't wait to see where God takes me with this. 

   Okay, here goes... a little bit about me! I wear a lot of hats: