...grandpas travel to backroads and kill themselves because they are in too much pain to live. They leave behind grandsons who never cry.
They join gangs at age twelve, because a friend was killed by another rival gang at age 11.
Their baby's daddy hits them, causing swelling and pain, and then she beats others with her words, her speech, her defiance. Her child will repeat the cycle.
A boy, 17 going on manhood, would rather sit around the house and curse at his little sister then find a job, or go to college, or boil hot dogs.
Their myspace page reads like back of the bus conversation on a Friday afternoon.
He is excited about new shoes.
She smokes weed to clear her mind, to calm her, because she does not know God.
Grandmothers can't pay bills, but will go to Dollar General daily for a two liter of diet Coke.
Daughters find their mothers overdosed on the ground of a two bedroom Section 8 house.
He is held down daily, for throwing rocks, for cursing, for hatred. Hatred, and God only knows where it comes from, because he will not open up and explain himself. He is fighting inside himself. He is dying.
Five year olds set fires, and are blamed when an infant cousin is covered in third degree burns.
It is never questioned how a five year old knew how to light a match. It doesn't matter.
He would rather have his heart beat right out of his chest than cry any tears. Real or fake.
Mother and daughter have a mature conversation about contraception. At age 15.
They put obstacles in front of themselves, because they have never been given a clear path.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 ESV
Wow, this post was chilling. It was really good for me to read this and remember things like that. I remember dealing with this sort of thing when I was teaching public school, too -- both in student teaching and at Bartlett. That verse is amazing...it reminds us not to be self-righteous about our "accomplishments" spiritually, which are as filthy rags before God, because He rejoices over one that He has brought back to the fold more than those who never go astray. It is comforting to know that God rejoices in bringing us home. And I think that was a really appropriate verse to match with this post. Sigh...good words, good words.
ReplyDeleteit must be completely heartbreaking to work with these kids day in and out. i know God must have to be giving you so much strength to be a social worker, i know its not something i could do, and i admire you for it.
ReplyDelete