From Our Executive Director: Choosing Thankfulness

When you think of November, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For me, it is Thanksgiving and family. Pausing to remember the people and times for which I am thankful. There are times when this is more challenging. It's very easy to focus on the negative.

Over the past couple of years, we have seen a change in the kids who come to RHK: Increased anger, shorter tempers, disrespect, and lack of attention. We have also seen a decline in volunteers. With the decrease in volunteers, we have to limit the number of kids who can come to RHK. This breaks our hearts.

But, like I said, focusing on the negative is easy. At RHK, we CHOOSE to look at situations with a thankful heart. Difficult things are the things worth doing. They only increase our thankfulness. It's a blessing that God enables us to serve; all we have to say is, "Send me." A missionary couple to Haiti recently spoke to our teens. I remember their statement about the challenges of serving: "God will make you invincible until he is done with you!". Have you considered serving but keep doubting your ability? Your availability? Your ability to commit? Would you give all those up for God's invincibility working through you?

Yes, the kids are a bit rougher, but they come to RHK each week. They get nuggets of Jesus each evening, and their bellies are filled with good food. Volunteers fill their love tanks with unconditional love. The kids get their daily essentials and are safe from outside influences that could cause harm.

In November, we make sure we have traditions. Traditions are customs that are passed down from generation to generation. A tradition we hold dear is when the teens go to a local tree farm to cut down the RHK Christmas tree. This is our seventh year cutting down a tree. Many of our teens have said this is their very favorite field trip. At the tree farm, we see the teens in a different light. They look and act so innocent, running from one area to the next. They laugh and giggle when they see the farm animals. We see teamwork as the teens pick and cut down the tree.

The fun doesn't stop at the farm. The kids return to RHK and have a pizza party with Christmas music or a Christmas movie while decorating the tree. The teens make the tree their own and are excited to decorate it so that all RHK attendees and visitors can see it.

Another tradition we have at RHK is the "Thankful Chair." This tradition has carried on since the beginning of RHK. The chair sits in the chapel at the front of the room, and the kids take turns sitting in it and telling their peers what they are thankful for. We've heard kids share their thankfulness for their families and gratitude for RHK. They are grateful for the food, their teachers, and their experiences at RHK.

It isn't just the current attendees who are thankful. We have kids who have graduated from the program who come back and still speak of their memories from when they were at RHK.

They tell us they don't know where they would be today if it weren't for RHK. They knew they would have a hot meal, and, most of all, they knew people who would be there for them. People who would show up to their games and track meets. People who believed in them when they felt all alone.

We even have one of the original RHK kids volunteering with his wife. He said that one day, if he moved back into the Rockford area, he would volunteer at RHK because it would make such a difference in his life. He has so much to offer the kids he serves.

So, even when there seems to be more negative to focus on, there is always something positive. It is a choice as to which one you focus on.

Blessings,

Dee Lacny, Executive Director, Rock House Kids