Sometimes things are hard. No amount of correction or conversation or counseling seems to make them better. Sometimes poor behavior comes from deep seated wounds from the past that keep getting brought to the forefront time and time again. Sometimes when you are a young girl trying to have a normal life, you just want to be left alone.
There past few weeks have been really hard with one of our girls. I can't share too many details out of respect for her privacy, but its been rough. She has a past that I can't even imagine and a story that is really just hard. Her circumstances have left her feeling alone. And its a loneliness where you just feel like somebody should be on your side, somebody should have stood up for you, somebody should have protected you. And its true. What kind of mom lets the things happen that happen to her? Well... maybe a mom who has no choice? I don't know... everything in me wants to just be angry at her family for letting things get so bad... but I wasn't there and I don't know what else was going on... and yet... sigh.
This girl has suffered and continue to have to deal with things over and over again as her past just hasn't left her in peace. And now she is trying to be a high school student, and a mom, and a normal kid who likes to do normal kid things... and she cannot seem to find the balance. And her behavior shows that. So she is frustrated. She doesn't want to act so poorly, but it seems to just happen. And then she loses more privileges or makes people frustrated and it seems to make it worse.
And then there we are, the leadership, trying to know how to help. Some behaviors can't be overlooked or excused. Others we can work with. She is seeing a counselor, but these things take time. She is starting medication, but these things take time. And in the meantime, what?!? Day after frustrating day of trying to push for change...
But Jesus. That's the answer. These days have been really hard and seem to not be getting much better. But Jesus has the answer, He is the answer. So we pray. And we trust. And we give her over to Him. Because no amount of counseling or medication or conversation or discipline is going to mend the wounds that are deep in her heart. And we ask for wisdom to be people of grace in her life who know when to show tough love and when to just give hugs and cry for a little while. And we read her Scripture and we use every ounce of patience God gives us to show her that we are on her side. And not only that, but God is on her side. He loves her and gave His son for her so that she can be free to have a different life. She doesn't have to be stuck in pain and the consequences of sin forever. There is freedom and joy and life on the other side!
Please continue to pray with us for all of these things. Pray for healing that only Jesus can bring and an outpouring of Godly love from us to her. Pray that she would not just know about Jesus, but that she would know Him as her dearest friend and cling to Him alone.
