"Why can't we give you a hug here?"

my kids & our "room" in the library

One thing is certain. The saying, "You should never read a book by its cover," is so true. Today, the last day of school before "winter break," I fell speechless before my kids. One of my girls is unfortunately heading back to the school she was at before this one. She was using a fraudulent address and therefore is being kicked back. As my kids were lined up at the door I was giving them a little speech about how I'd miss them and they were to have a great break and Merry Christmas. I told the girl who was moving, "I'll give you a hug in the hall," knowing that I'd not see her again for a while, if ever. As she nodded to me, one of my boys says, "Well, why can't we give you a hug here?" Stunned I stood rethinking what I just heard, sure that I heard wrong.

October pic

I answered slowly (confused as I wasn't talking to him originally), "Well...you can give me a hug here if you want..." Meanwhile this is the boy who acts tough in the halls and in the regular ed. room. Still confused I held the door open as they filed out and then, one by one, they all gave me a hug, tough guy holding out both arms and truly hugging me. I quietly locked the door behind us and walked them outside.

As I watched them walk away I stood still, treasuring what had just happened. This boy, who so often sets the "cool" factor in the room just opened the door for each of these kids to give and receive love. Little does he know that he just revealed his vulnerability and his need for love and affection. If that's all it takes - he needn't look further.


I'm pretty sure that's the best Christmas gift I can possibly receive this year. Thanks God.

Paranda

5 phone calls.

2 different kids.

Three hours before Christmas caroling, or Paranda as we call it at Spirit & Truth, I got a phone call. Fifteen minutes later I got another phone call. Then another, and another, and finally one more. All of which were from two Sould Squad (Bible Study) kids who wanted to make sure I didn't forget to pick them up. So when 6:45 rolls around I head out to my car to pick these guys up. Noemy, Christina and Vanessa all clamber in and then direct me around to Anthony's house where his brother Pierre also tags along. A full carload, we finally pull up to church a few minutes early. Clearly the youngest attenders at the beginning of the night, these 5 were not intimidated. Me, I think I would've asked to go home or just walked around 

with my head down. But these 5, they walked around outside in the cold for two hours, singing the two or three words they knew of the songs we sung. The lyrics weren't much help - for various reasons (disinterest, unable to read Spanish, or on a VERY low Reading level) - yet they never complained. No, if you look closely...I'd even say they had fun!

I love how something as simple as hanging out with adults you don't know and walking around the neighborhood at night can be such a night for these guys. They continue to amaze me at how hungry they are for attention, for love, and for things to do. When I was driving them home I said how glad I was they came out. The reply: "Miss, come on, it's not like we had anything else to do...we'd do anything!" God continually blesses me through them. I wonder if they know how much God is using each of them.

Pray that they hear the words of the songs we sang and the words of love God speaks to them.