Hope

     I have started the training process. Day 1 is complete as of 3:30 P.M. today. I am an open book right now waiting, learning, and eager to be fully trained. The kids in my house are awesome. They are full of life and I can only HOPE, PRAY, and WISH they continue to grow and become as eager to open up as I am eager to help them. The attitude in the house is awesome. But after talking to staff, that may or may not be a good thing. For that is when we must be on our P's and Q's. My prayer is that the house will keep the positive, encouraging, and motivational attitude that they have had since I have gotten here. Every week we as staff ( Stephen, Jason , and myslef) set a goal for the guys to try to meet and live up to. This weeks goal just happens to be for the kids to be more motivated-for themselves and to keep the other residents to motivated. They are big into fitness, working out, running, and being active-which is an instant connecting factor for me. Once I get fully trained I have already had two or three kids in house tell me they will run with me when I start training for my half-marathon. Back to the topic at hand-HOPE! Like I was saying, I can honestly tell that the kids want so much to change, and we has staff can only push them and challenge them so much. My HOPE is that my (our) prayers continue to flow in and work!
     As you all know I have been blessed/cursed with a big heart. My heart longs for these kids because I can honestly and truthfully tell that they are good kids. Honeslty, they remind me of the way I was/am growing up. The energy the kids have reminds me of the passion for life that I have recently discovered. The balance between grace and action has already shown to be challenging. With this job comes a rollercoaster of emotions. Highs-lows-and every possible emotion available under the moon in between is and will be involved with this job. One of the hardest things about this job is going to be to not take anything personal, last night only proved that. I have been told by several people that letting things get under your skin will make you not enjoy this job. You have to keep the big picture in mind. God is bigger than anything we can or could imagine. If being called a name is what it takes to shoe God's love then bring on the names.
      My devotion this morning only reassured me that there is HOPE and one day it will prevail. If not while they are here once they have graduated. We are tillers of soil, making them ready for seeds to be planted.
    MY DEVOTION:
    "You are walking along the path I have chosen for you. It is both a priviledge and a perilous way: experiencing my glorious presence and herading the reality to others. Sometimes you feel presumptious to carry out such an assignment. Do not worry about what others are saying about you. The work I am doing in you is hidden at first. But eventually blossoms will burst forth and abundant fruit will be born. Stay on the path with me and trust me completely."
     As I always do, I close asking that yall start/continue to pray fro Heartlight, these kids, staff and myself. Thanks!