| As we each prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I was struck once again when I simply looked at how often Paul referenced “thanks” and “thanksgiving” in his New Testament letters. Here is simply one example of many:
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people”
We also find his command to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Over and over throughout his letters he is giving thanks for others, and commanding us to give thanks. A grateful heart is very important for each of us. We really do each have so much to be thankful for, but its also very easy, because of our sinful nature, to forget this.
We have much to be thankful for here at The Joy House this year as we continue to see Christ change lives. We also have been able to open our doors and hearts to more teens than ever before through the opening of our new girl’s home earlier this year. However, none of this would be possible without our partners. I’m truly grateful for each one of you who give your money, time, and talents to make a difference here. We are only able to be the hands and feet of Christ to all those we serve because of your partnership. Thank you for continuing to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
My prayer for each of us is that God would remind us all of the many things we have to be thankful for as we celebrate this Thanksgiving. |
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| The Game of Life. The name of this counseling model was coined by Bill Wattenbarger. It’s the game we all play as humans, and it prompts us to consider what we fixate on. Or in other words, what do we worship? God has created us to worship Him, to come to Him, to long for Him, and to love Him. Let us all pause to consider… Where do our affections lie? For all of us, our answer to this question is one of the first steps towards change. People come to us because in one way or another, they want something to change. They want a marriage to change, they want their child’s behavior to change, they want their parents to change, or they want their moods to change. This is where the grace of the gospel brings to us a comfort and a calling in the midst of situations that remain stagnant. Because the gospel changes us from the inside out. When life gets hard, where do you turn? For some, it may be the approval of others. For others it may be drugs or alcohol. Maybe you turn inward to your thoughts, convincing yourself that you can control your circumstances from your own intellect or maybe you rely on your achievements and performance to compensate for what is missing. Maybe you lose yourself in social media and create a false reality for yourself. Or maybe you distract yourself with busyness. Oftentimes, our true colors begin to show when our lives are turned upside down. In all things may we go back to our first love, God. He is in total control, is all-knowing, and has shoulders broad enough to carry all that we cannot. He sees us right where we are, knows all that we have done, and loves us unconditionally. This is the comfort we have in the gospel. As a sign of our trust in who God says He is, we must choose to obey Him in the way that we react to the circumstances around us. In other words, obedience is God's love language. This is the call we are given in the gospel. As counselors, we want to see, know, and love each person that is put into our care by advocating for the comfort and the call of the gospel in each person’s life that we encounter. |
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| The Joy House was blessed to celebrate another graduation from our residential program on November 2, 2023. The room was filled with staff and with Riley’s family and friends as we all recounted Riley’s journey to the Joy House, in the residence, in counseling, in the school, and back home again, reunited with a healthier, happier family.
Her journey began on the pickleball court, but she didn’t know it; she had been hospitalized again due to her self-harm and suicide attempts. Meanwhile, her grandparents were in Alabama at a pickleball tournament. You’ll never guess who else was there. Or maybe you will… It was Steve Lowe, executive director of the Joy House and pickleball player extraordinaire. Riley’s grandparents shared Riley’s condition with Steve, who then told them about the Joy House program. Her grandparents eagerly shared this resource with Riley’s parents, who viewed this pickleball encounter as divine intervention.
Riley arrived at the Joy House on Oct. 16, 2022. Like most residents, she did not want to be here. She spent a few weeks using every tool in her toolbox to persuade SOMEBODY to get her out of here. Her parents, however, were committed. Their commitment paid off handsomely. As Riley settled in and resigned herself to completing the program, we began to see changes.
In counseling with Mr. Darren, Riley developed “grit,” an ability to handle adversity missing from so many young people. She discovered that she could do hard things, including finishing the Joy House program and coping when life-- and thoughts--become overwhelming.
In the house, Riley developed relationships with the house parents and the other residents, relationships that helped stabilize her and enable her to be the daughter and person she was meant to be.
In school, Riley was gifted. Arriving in the 8th grade, she was placed in 9th grade courses. She completed Algebra I, Algebra II, World History, U.S. History, Biology, Physical Science, and 9th grade English, all in the 10 months she was here! She left with an A average.
During the ceremony celebrating her completion of the program, Riley expressed gratitude to every member of the staff for helping pull her off the path of destruction she was on. Her parents also expressed heartfelt thanks, noting that they had tried the clinical route again and again, with no success. When they had nowhere to turn, God offered them hope at a pickleball tournament in Alabama.
To celebrate one more young person saved by the grace of God from a sick culture is a highlight for every person involved with the Joy House. We are thankful to have been a part of the rescue. |
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