Sunday, November 22, 2015

What I've learned living with troubled teens for 13 or so months.



Ratchet is more than just a commonly used tool. 

If you have a guy you like more than other guys, he undergoes an automatic name change to "bae," even if there was nothing wrong with his original name. 

Unless your hair is blonde, you must shave your arms as well as other areas too embarrassing to mention. 

There are numerous terms like "pitch and catcher," that have alternate meanings a lot less innocent than their primary definition. 

Not only can you turn around, but you can also get turnt up. 

Unexpected things can be turned into a pipe, even an apple, to be used to smoke other unexpected things like oregano. 

Being called a "fucking bitch," is less of an insult and more of a term of endearment. 

When teens volunteer to do nice things like take out the trash after dark, most likely their significant other is also "taking out the trash," at the same time, at different trash cans, yet somehow their lips seem to magically find each other's. 

Sometimes when they say they're gonna punch you in the face or run away, they actually have no intention of ever seeing it through. 

Sometimes when they say they're gonna punch you in the face or run away, they have every intention of seeing it through. 

It doesn't matter if you haven't changed into a sports bra and tennis shoes, sometimes you're going on a run whether you like it or not. 

Moments in the bathroom or running errands are peaceful all up until the moment you hear your name being called because someone lost their fancy ass shampoo. 

You no longer blush at the sound of profanity, and you've acquired quite the sailor's mouth yourself. 

Testing the boundaries and breaking the rules aren't signs of rebellion but rather an indication that one possesses the courage to create their own stories and define their own dreams. 

There are adventures that many will never embark on because they were too afraid to question what they knew as a teenager, nor follow their hearts call to an epic journey. 

Sometimes the most beautiful moments in life happen after the biggest storms. 

If the behavior is bigger than the circumstance, the issue is not the circumstance. 

The ones that exercise all their energy in pushing others away are the ones that need others the most. 

When someone messes up, we should move towards them in grace rather than walk away from them in frustration. 

There is always hope that someone can change, even if you're not around to see the change take place. 

Even the greatest parents screw their kids up unintentionally and we are all on a path, healing from our childhood wounds. 

The ones that are brave enough to question God's existence are the ones that are brave enough to passionately follow Him into the unknown. 

Those who have the toughest exterior usually have the softest interior. 

There is no place too far that God's grace can't reach, no sin too great that God's sacrifice didn't already cover, and no heart too broken that God can't mend. 

No matter how many times nor for however many years we chase after worldly success others, God will always love us and never stop pursuing us. 

My ability to unconditionally love others suffers when I struggle to accept God's unconditional love for myself.