Teenagers

Working with teenagers has been my life work.I am not sure I ever chose it but somehow it chose me.I have been a youth worker in a large church,a camp director for teens,a counselor,a teacher,a friend.I now live with two.Their friends invade our home and refrigerator,our conversations and mealtimes.A mixture of laughter and pointed conversations fills our home on many nights.They sing Christmas songs in my truck,throw football gear in the back,leave half-empty Gatoraids rolling around on the floor.And each time they depart,I can hear their voices rolling round and round in my home or truck. I wonder at times what they will become,what they will do in life. Will they remember our home,the food,the kitchen table?Will they remember what we tried to impart when they stayed in our home? Will they catch what my husband and I are trying to throw their way while they throw the football back and forth?Or is it enough to give safe harbor some nights in a world where many teens have no place to tie up their boat for the night...