7.19.12 Evening

As I sit here (in silence) reflecting on what I experienced tonight.   I went on to my facebook page to see how my friends spent the evening.. My aunt posted a prayer avalanche others posted funny posters and some posted pictures... but the one that hit me was this one.. Thank you, Maribel... I feel it is most appropriate for no one will ever understand unless they have experienced it. 
I am so grateful to "our 2 sisters" for watching my children which allowed me to go and listen to 4 amazing stories of how these young men and women messed up and ended themselves in prison.  As we sat as a community and listened one by one they stood up and poured out their life stories to a room full of strangers.  They were brave and strong and have endured a lot in their young lives.  They make no excuses for the poor choices they made, instead they stood there and tried to give insight for the parents  and advice to the youth in the room.  They receive NOTHING for doing this.  They will continue to serve their 5 and 10 year prison sentences, they do not receive any compensation, nor are they allowed to take tokens of gratitude from those they share their story with.  Instead they are doing this to HELP the communities some of which they lived in.  Whether these programs help or not, no one really knows, I do know that it helped to make me want to be a better parent and to make better choices that will affect my children so that they will see good choices and perhaps not make poor ones.  As I put my children in bed, I said the prayers and included these young men and women and asked that their stories be enough for someone in the room to make a choice not to go down the same path..... I gave my children an extra hug and kiss and told them how much I love them.  I did learn we all need to mentor, even to those who we feel have it all together... Another thing I am thankful tonight.  Wishing you all a Fabulous Friday.