Each one of you here today is motivated by a goal. You may  be in pursuit of aneducational degree.  Or you maydream of changing jobs.  Or maybeyour desire is to earn a higher salary. These are common drives that consumeeach of us at one time or another.   But I challenge you to aspire to a different objective:the determination that you will make a positive difference in the life of atroubled child.

Inside of you is a treasure that can help bring light intoa darkened heart, hope where there is sadness, and focus where there is no senseof purpose.  That priceless treasureis your compassion.  Good things cancome out of difficult situations, and you can certainly be an instrument forthat good in the life of such a child.  Weall share a common desire to see people reach their full potential. It would not be an exaggeration to say that we truly want the best forone another.  This is because the"best" would include the possession of such things as high moralstandards, a healthy image of oneself, self discipline, and good attitudestoward other people.  You can help affect this type of change in a segment of society where the need is great, but so is the payoff. Working with troubled children allows you to have an input into a younglife for good.  Many children arelacking in social areas of life.  Theyare not receiving the direction they need at home. Sometimes these children are not seeing healthy relationships withintheir family.  Some do not receivevery much in the way of affirmation.  Yourinvolvement lets them know you care about them, and gives you a valuable opportunity to plant seeds into their life, andwatch them grow and mature. 

Community programs often have opportunities for this typeof service.  For example, there isan excellent community volunteer program that allows adults to tutor children inreading once a week.  Churches areanother source for service.   Myhusband and I became involved in working with children through a ministry togirls and boys at our church.  Webegan taking a few interested children each Wednesday night in our cars. The numbers of children grew to the point that it now takes two big vansto transport them.  A large percentage of these children come from troubledhomes, with very unstable family situations. We have been amazed at the response - something continues to draw themback, week after week.  Part of thedraw is certainly the love and concern that the workers have for the children.

You may start out of a desire to give, but your giving willenrich you so much more than you can imagine. It is not always easy, but it is extremely rewarding to finally see ayoung person respond to your patient commitment. Think back to the way youyourself blossomed under the attention and instruction of a caring adult in yourown life.   I have watched oneparticular young girl, who had always been rather flighty, changeable, andeasily influenced by the negativity around her. She is now so much more focused, and enthusiastically pursues eachactivity.  She has become somethingof an example for the other girls because of her good behavior and attitude. Then there is the twelve year old boy who has been attending regularly. Coming from an unstable home life, with little in the way of goodparental guidance and example, he decided he liked what he saw in the life ofthe youth pastor who works with them each week. My husband was surprised to hear this boy comment one night, "Iwant to be a pastor." 

It is so beneficial for a child to see good charactermodeled consistently in an adult, an adult who is willing to spend regular timewith that child.  You might say, "What difference can an hour or two per week make? And if the child comes from a troubled environment, will this short timemake much difference?"   Theanswer is yes.  As a child, CharlesStanley suffered from deep feelings of inferiority, rooted in the constantdisapproval he received from his stepfather.  His grades were poor, and he suffered under the dislike of his classmatesand teachers.  But two adults made aspecial effort to reach out with affirmation and support, and this was thebeginning of his realization that he had worth as an individual.  He went on to become Dr. Charles Stanley, renowned Bibleteacher, author, and a successful pastor of one of the largest churches inAtlanta.

 Your gift to achild like this is multi-faceted.  Yougive:

1. The gift of dreams.  As you guide the child through various projects, studies, and activities, you help the child to dream dreams - these can turn into goals, that will serve to motivate the child to accomplishment.  

2. The gift of self discipline.  You encourage the child to exercise personal discipline in their own life, as you help them focus their efforts to reach a goal.  This allows the child discover the joy of accomplishment.

3. The gift of encouragement.  When a task is difficult for the child, you are there to lift flagging spirits and give praise for honest effort.  Your regular encouragement is just as important as the teaching and direction, because this type of child is more likely to give up when they experience failure.  But you are there to cheer them on and say  "I believe in you and I know you can do it."

4. The gift of a good attitude.  Often our environment is so negative, cynical, and critical.   You can express a different, fresh outlook, encouraging high standards, respectful attitudes toward authority, and a habit of looking for the best in others and themselves.

5. The gift of wise training in social interactions.  You let a child know what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

Allow yourself to become a part of the mosaic of a child'slife.  Your influence is as great asyou want it to be.  The investmentof your time and energy will enhance both of you. And do not be surprised if,  yearslater, you learn that your interaction and dedication played a major role in thesuccess of that child.   Ithappens every day.  Let it happen toyou!