God has been calling me deeper in to ministering to the youth group girls, and so far I have done my best answering that call. Man, those girls tire me out! In a good way though! :) Ever since having Kaileigh at a young age I knew that someday God would use that situation to glorify Himself. I knew that I wanted to marry someone who would be in ministry - and I found Mark. God made me for a purpose...
Lately my testimony has really come in to play with the girls at church. Without going in to personal detail, I can honestly say that there is so much hidden pain, remorse, grief, sin, and hurt in their lives, it is almost unbearable for me to even hear them speak about their lives or their pasts.
The life of a teenager is so muck darker than it was 10 years ago.
Cutting? How many kids actually did that back then? Do you know how often it occurs in Christian kids today? Way more than you would ever expect.
Abortion.
Miscarriage.
Sex.
Drugs.
Alcohol.
Stealing.
Broken Homes.
Abusive parents.
Sexual abuse.
Rape.
Missing dads.
Anger.
Hate.
Rage.
Intolerance.
Depression.
Suicidal thoughts.
This is the norm.
I ache for these precious girls. I cry with them and for them. I pray for them. They are like my daughters. It sounds silly, but it's true. I'd lay my life down for them, same as I would for Kaileigh.
I am so blessed to have some time to join Mark in this ministry. My prayer is that I can live my life in a way that will have an amazing impact in their lives.
22 minutes ago
3 Comments:
You are amazing, my friend! God has surely used your situation for good and He will continue to. I am so proud of you for letting him do so.
As for kids these days...it just kills me too. The cutting thing is something I have a really hard time understanding. I had no idea how wide spread it was and when I found out, I could only cry. I am praying for you in your ministry. I love your heart for these girls.
My friend Anna and I talk all the time about how much harder it is to be a teenage girl these days and many of our conversations have centered on the fact that maybe the only way we can help is to be honest about what we went through ourselves. I really believe that's the key. Honesty, transparency...bringing things out into the light so that God can heal. It is not easy because I know I hate to dredge up old stuff sometimes but I want to stay in touch with the hurts that God has walked with me through so that I can share them with other people. I don't want to forget and go around acting like I've never struggled and then make someone feel like I felt when I was a teenager. Like I was the only one who could possibly feel the way that I do. That no one would understand if I told them the truth. That's just isolating. And in isolation, people do desperate things.
Thanks for doing what you are doing! Let me know if there's anything specific I can pray for. Love you!!
on a related note....have you ever read The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen?
It relates to what I'm saying. I had to read it for my ministry minor but it was really good and not textbookish. The premise of the book is that even though the world says we should hide our weaknesses and mistakes and feel shameful or guilty. But we all have wounds so as we are aware of them and honest about them, healing can begin and we can help others.
I'm glad that God is using you to minister to those young women - I know He can and will do big things for you through that. Coming from someone that doesn't relate all that well to teenagers, it makes me really glad to see God using you for them!
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