I Pray

Before I started my summer job I was informed that the kids I would work with have difficult behaviors due to difficult pasts. I was told not to judge. And I was trained to over-praise when they showed good behavior and to avoid or ignore the bad behavior. 4:1. Four praises to every one criticism. This is completely backwards. In the real world, criticism is frequent while praise is few and far between.

If a kid doesn't like someone in the group, they make threats or throw fists and get to go individual with their own staff. Which is exactly what they want because individual is often more fun than group. This is completely backwards. In the real world, you often have to be more than civil to people you can't stand, whether they be classmates or coworkers.

These kids are handed from one staff, to the next. One foster home, to the next. Years and years of reinforcement have taught them that all one must do is act out to get what they want. There is no punishment, no discipline, and no consequences. It breaks my heart. I am only with them for a fourth of the day and am not allowed to correct. Only praise. Which has taught me to have great patience. Because even when I know that they know better than to break things, or cuss, or fight, or run away, or yell, or make threats, all I can do is find something they did right, thank them for it, and tell them things will be okay. Even though they don't deserve that.

I ask myself often how can I help the kids I work with find success? Then I become frustrated when I realize that ultimately the outcome of their lives are up to them and the choices they make. I can only hope to somehow be a positive influence. But there is one more thing I can do.

Elder Uchtdorf said, "Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet..." I firmly believe his words to be true. Except in this case. On my feet I do everything I can for the RISE kids, even when it doesn't seem to make a difference. But I know I can always pray for them. And I find great comfort in that.