As I look back, there are two things that prepared me for this moment.

For years there had been this idea in and out of my head.  The idea was to create an after-school program at our church.  In the fall of 1999 my friend Mary’s daughter Becky was looking for a Girl Scout Gold Award project.  So after thinking that I‘d someday get around to bringing this idea to life, instead I gave it to Becky.  With guidance from Mary and me, Becky did all the groundwork needed to create the First Presbyterian Church Tutoring and Mentoring Program.  The next year Becky went to college and Mary and I are now in the 10^th year of the program.

I will be forever convinced that it was God “nagging” me all those years and that he gave me Becky that fall and the wisdom to let go of “ownership” of this idea.  What has grown from that is remarkable.  It is a constant reminder that letting go can provide the most incredible growth.

As I look back there are two things that prepared me for this moment.

My son Elliott is dyslexic.  Working with him had given me great empathy for children who have a tough time in school.  He did well – in fact he’s grown up to be a teacher – but it wasn’t easy.  Yet, people looked at him and John and me and just assumed that everything was “normal”.  And they were right – it was “normal” but our normal was different than theirs.  And that is true of so many children and their families.

The second thing began when Elliott was in the 6^th grade.  There was a new boy in his class and on his basketball team.  He was a great kid and became a frequent visitor to our home.  He would arrive Friday after school and stay through Saturday.  At 5:00 on Saturday he would ask me to take him home.  For the next 4 or 5 years this would be his routine at our home and the home of 2 or 3 other families.  I finally realized that either no one was home or there was someone there he didn’t want to be around so he found a safe place to be. 

Children come to our program for a number of reasons and from many different situations.  Some come for purely academic needs.  Others come from difficult home situations and need to spend one day after school in a fun and positive environment.  Still others come to give them a break from being the parent and caring for siblings after school.  It doesn’t matter why they are there – it only matters that we are there consistently for them and that we show them that we care about them just because they are.  They don’t have to earn our love.

So by letting go of an idea my life has changed incredibly.  I found what it is God had been preparing me for all these years.  What a wonderful puzzle master he is.  I’m so thankful that these are the pieces of that puzzle He gave me.

Gail
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