My first day without Lostboy

I have to say, today felt MUCH different. Yesterday was Lostboy's last day, and so today was COMPLETELY different for me. Not that I don't care about Lostboy, I do. However, I found today that a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I have thought about him a lot today, wondering how it was for him to be in a Behavior Disordered Room. But, that being said, I had SO MUCH more time to focus on my other students. Granted, Lostboy had SuperSubGal with him the last week to take care of him, but I hadn't really realized how much energy I put into Lostboy and how guarded I had found myself around him. I loved him, but I couldn't take his word at face value, and ALWAYS had to lock up anything of value because there was no telling what he'd take. Today I found myself less guarded with my students, which felt good.

Did I miss Lostboy today? No, not really. But will I keep praying for him and keep up on how he's doing, yes. I will never know what difference (if any) I made on him. I mean, he has real potential to still wind up in jail. Or juvie.

But, I have a new favorite quote that keeps coming to me when I think of him. I read the book, The Blessed Child by Ted Dekker, and in it was a quote I now have up on my door here at school.

"Words are weak instruments of love. They can do many things but they do not carry the truth like your hands do. People need to be shown, not told."

I think that's what Lostboy got.
Love.
Unconditional Love.

I pray he'll remember that in the days and years to come.

Perhaps that's the hardest part of my job, I have them for 174 days, and then they move on. Granted, some I have for two years, and then they move on. Some come back, but not many.

I just pray that they are better people because of the role I prayed in their lives...

Later...