“What is something you hope for?”
We asked this question in our small group of junior high students at youth group last fall.. I expected all sorts of answers from “I hope I pass my test” to “I hope for an amazing boyfriend”, or even “I hope for a Steelers win on Sunday”
To my dismay, what we got in return was crickets…. Even from our “Sunday school kids”.
(“Sunday school kids are the ones who grew up in Sunday School… who “know” the right answer to give even if they don’t believe it or don’t feel it. Though I’m thankful for these kids and their background in the Bible, sometimes I find their the hardest to actually break through because they put on a facade, and sometimes don’t deal well with the messiness of life. I always encourage our kids to just share THEIR feelings honestly and to NOT always give us the Sunday School answer)
On this day, though, my heart broke as NOT ONE of our 20+ kids could articulate a SINGLE thing they hoped for…. Not one.
And lest you think perhaps we leaders just put them on the spot awkwardly, might I just say that this same group normally has had no problem sharing their thoughts and personal struggles.
I literally had to ask them if they understood hope… and we spent some time discussing what it means to hope. My heart was broken.
What are we doing to our next generation? have we taken away ALL of their reason for hope? To the point where they no longer even TRY to have Hope leave and dreams?
My friends, if that doesn’t break your hearts, I would ask you to check your heartbeat…
What is something YOU hope for?
Blessings, SB
Journey-For-Life 
I’ve always hoped for the impossible.
LikeLike