The "Love Approach"

Every morning the staff here meets for prayer time at 10:30. I shared a story that happened this past weekend and it is obviously more powerful than I thought...so here it is (the short version).

There are 2 little boys in our ministry who I have come to love very much. From the outside they are the cutest, most innocent faces you have ever seen. But if you really get to know them... there are times you might run in the other direction. Most nights they can be found wondering the streets alone. They cuss like sailors, fight anyone they come into contact with, steal, get kicked out of school and I've even heard a story about them beating someone up with a metal pipe. Their ages. 6 & 7.. that's right...they are in first grade. They are a test to my patience. They never follow the Underground rules, steal from us and at times have called people on our staff horrible names. I must admit that at this time last week I was whining to Paul (my boss) about the fact that I would never get through to these two and that some day I would probably be visiting them in prison.

All of this past weekend these two boys were on my heart and I was trying to think of a new approach. I decided that I would try the "love approach". So on Sunday night they showed up to hang out and play video games for a couple of hours. I spent most of the night sitting next to them and hugging them everytime I got the chance. They didn't really respond like I wanted.. I was definitely giving one sided hugs and getting weird glares from them. They even pulled away a few times, BUT God was obviously just wearing them down.

At the end of the night we cleaned up and I was walking all the kids outside to go home. They were the last two out. As they were walking out the door the 7 year-old reached up and grabbed a hold of my neck, pulled me down to him and...... kissed me on the cheek. Moments later the 6 year old walked up to me and said, "Can I hug you?" and he grabbed a hold and squeezed on to me tight. NEVER had these kids shown any form of affection! Yes there were tears.... and still are tears about that moment.

God is constantly reminding me not to give up on the kids down here. Just when I think nothing can be done... He sends a simple kiss and hug to remind me He is at work!