Today, we had this training at work called Street Gangs 101. I have been waiting for this training for quite a while, and it was so well done. I am so interested in gang culture and facts and history, etc., and it was an incredibly informative training. The last part of the training had to do with a story, and a video. The man doing the video has been working with juveniles involved in gangs for years and is a respected professional and therapist. During the video, he was talking about how important affection and encouragement is to our kids. What struck me was that he was basically quoting scripture without knowing it. I am constantly amazed at how unoriginal everything is. God’s Book literally sets the stage for every issue we could face on this earth, and I am constantly reminded of that. I don’t work with a Christian organization, I hang out with a lot of people that are not Christians, and I work in neighborhoods and with people that my “Christian” friends would perhaps shun or be scared of. But there is so much GOD in everything I do and in all the people I encounter and in all the experiences I am having with this population.

During the video, he kept saying that it is all about the transformation of the mind being key to recovery and rehabilitation for those who are so entrenched in the gang culture they are having a hard time getting out. Sound familiar?

“Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” -Romans 12:2a

Then, he kept talking about how these kids need encouragement, and to be told “I love you!” and to be affirmed and to be hugged. One of the supervisors at work was talking about an experience she has had here working at Johnson, an alternative school here in North Nashville. She said her second year working there, she walked into her classroom and there was this perky, energetic southern woman painting “Ignore, Redirect, Tell the Teacher” on the board. Crystal (one of the supervisors), said that she almost went to the dean of the school and said, “Heck no I am not working with Mary Poppins! These kids are going to think she is a joke!” She chose to stick it out instead and found out within 15 minutes this was no Mary Poppins, she was a true southern woman; a woman who sugar-coats with an accent while laying the smack down. However, she also told Crystal that in their class, every morning they were going to say “Good Morning! I love you!” and give them a hug, and every afternoon they were going to say, ” Have a good night, be safe, I love you!” as they were leaving. Crystal laughed and said “yeah, right.” Southern belle, said, “Yeah, right!”  So they did it. And the kids responded. And every morning they said back, “Good Morning, I love you!” after a while, and every afternoon, “Have a good night, be safe, I love you!” Crystal said that they may be cussing a person up and down in the hall on their way to class, but they would stop in the middle of their rant, almost without thinking, and they would say it back, then continue cursing the person out. Another teacher on the hall made fun of them, and as a joke, told his class one day “Everybody stand up! I’m going to give you all a hug, one at a time; we’re going to call it Hug a Thug day!” The kids thought he was joking, (he thought it was a joke, too) but he still made them do it, and he gave them all a hug. They laughed, they shrugged him off, they were uncomfortable; he thought it was stupid. A few days later, the kids all started asking when they were going to have Hug a Thug day again, and they really wanted to know.

This teacher realized this was actually important. These kids need affection, and encouragement, and love, and praise. They may have murdered someone, they may be running drugs, they may have sexed a girl into a gang, the list goes on and on, but they need love. They are people: we are all people who need genuine affection, encouragement, love, affirmation. Why do we think it matters who it’s directed towards? Or who even wants that? Who cares if a person cusses you out every single day when you tell them good morning, I love you, because I guarantee the one day you don’t, they are going to notice and ask for their good morning and I love you and say it right back to you. (Another thing that happened to Crystal, after A YEAR AND A HALF of getting cussed out every morning after saying that. That student is graduating from high school, going into the military, and still e-mailing Crystal about his progress, by the way.)

It’s amazing where we see the Lord, and hear the Gospel, and see the effects of love in action if we will just listen and hear.

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