When will the children just grow up

One of the frustration in dealing with children, especially children who come from difficult homes, is patience!!! Why don't the children get it? Why don't they see what we are trying to do for them and start behaving like grateful children rather than selfish brats!!! What is wrong with them?

Then I reflect and realize that Jesus is saying, look at what I have done for you...but you continue to disobey. I have loved you, despite your actions, and I have been patient with you...and I have called you to do the same. Love these children despite their actions, love these children even when they are rotten, love these children because you might be the only one that does!!!

Damien Horn is a very gifted young Salvationist. Born into a horrible family situation, he watched his older siblings go down a slippery path with drugs and gangs. Thank God that, as a young teenager, he began to attend The Salvation Army. During his teenage years he developed a wonderful talent for music and poetry and decided he should go to Hollywood to ply his trade. He soon found that this selfish use of his talents was a waste, and he came home feeling rejected and dejected. Damien then returned to his teenage roots, and found a great outlet through the ministry of The Salvation Army. This fine young Salvationist now talks to young people about his life, and God is using him to affect so many of them.

How did Damien get to this point in his life? Much of it was the patience of the Salvationists in his life who just loved him. In his testimony he will talk about Majors Earl and Janice Fitzgerald, who hired him on their Camp staff for three consecutive summers...and fired him for three consecutive summers. It was chances like these that gave Damien the opportunity to succeed in life. What if they had given up on him, what if they had said...you are too much trouble, we can't handle you. But they didn't, they were patient.

And so my job is to love our young people, no matter how infuriating they might be. My job is to exercise patience, no matter how tired I might be. My job is to be Jesus to these children, no matter how inadequate I might feel...My job is to follow my calling.