Chase and I have been Girls House Parents at The Joy House for just short of a year now. Working with these teenage girls and their families has been nothing short of amazing. People ask Chase and I all the time how we have it in us to be a House Parent or to work with so many teens at a time. The only thing I can answer to this is by the power and grace of God. Many people that hear that we are House Parents say "What a hard job you have". But in all honesty, it's not about the "hard work". This is simply another day for us to show these girls the love that God shows us daily.
Every morning that we wake is a new day for us to be disciples of Christ and help those who ask for it. It is so rewarding for Chase and I to see these girls flourish in all they do and to watch their relationship with their families flourish too, When Chase and I first started praying about this new position, we knew almost instantly that this was God's calling for our lives here in Georgia. Tiffany Smith, a fellow House Parent back in Moblie, Alabama once said "I would much rather grieve the loss of a child leaving our home knowing that while they were with us they 100% saw the love of Christ." and it has stuck with me ever since.
When a teen comes into our home, I want them to know that we here to walk alongside them the whole way. The change of heart is what we are looking for, not a change of personality. Chase and I always tell our girls, they are not here for what they have done, they are here for what they can BECOME. Watching these girls grow in so many different aspects of their lives is why Chase and I do what we do. We are so thankful for The Joy House and how this ministry daily serves families to restore their relationships and help lead these teens down the best path for their future. |