dedication day

This tangible picture of love and acceptance, forgiveness and redemption was a beautiful sight this morning.  

While I cannot emphatically speak to the condition of any heart except my own, I know I have seen changes and growth in many of these young ladies.  

Being a part of a larger body saying to them "You are loved" was moving for me, especially as a former teen mom myself. 

 

Each evening one of the teen moms texts me.  It has been fun because texting in Kreyol forces me to improve and look words up. Usually it is just a good night message or maybe a sweet "I love you".  We've come to expect the phone to ding around 9:30 each evening. Tonight she wrote - "Thank you for everything you all do for us."  We texted back - "We love you. We're so glad God put you here. Have a good night." 

Her reply was - "Good Night - Psalm 121".

 ¹ I look up to the hills.
      Where does my help come from?
 ² My help comes from the Lord.
      He is the Maker of heaven and earth.
 ³ He won't let your foot slip.
      He who watches over you won't get tired.
 ⁴ In fact, he who watches over Israel
      won't get tired or go to sleep.
 ⁵ The Lord watches over you.
      The Lord is like a shade tree at your right hand.
 ⁶ The sun won't harm you during the day.
      The moon won't harm you during the night.
 ⁷ The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm.
      He will watch over your life.
 ⁸ The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go,
      both now and forever. 

If the only thing the Harbor House accomplished in the time the young women are with us is to convince them they are deeply loved by a God who desires to see their pain redeemed and their lives transformed and that (as this Psalm says) their help comes from Him, we'll all count that a precious gift. Only He can write stories that beautiful.