12/18/2024
Helping that Hinders? Or Love that Leads to Freedom? Asking the Hard Questions.
Will You Help Us Make the Difference that Changes Lives?
While the issues of homelessness are incredibly complex, and while there is no one cookie-cutter approach to resolving some of these issues, we believe there are also some non-negotiables
as we work with youth caught in cycles that bring destruction to their lives and further unraveling of our community.
~Unconditional high regard (love and grace)
~Personal responsibility
~Community accountability
Sometimes we have to bring it back to the basics. What would we want for our own children?
As a mother of four daughters, and a grandmother of nine grandchildren, I have hard and fast beliefs on what love looks like. I have a feeling if I ask you what you want for your own kids and grandkids, our answers would be very similar. We would never dream of taking our 18-year-old to a government office and showing them how to sign up for food stamps and “free” housing. How do we love our kids? Unconditionally, of course! And we teach them as early as possible how to work, how to take responsibility, and that whether it’s a teacher, a boss or the law, we are not islands, but rather, we are accountable to the community at some level.
One of my favorite sections of scripture talks about how God disciplines those He loves. I can relate to this! Not only as one who has received discipline, but one who loves my kids enough to bring discipline into their lives as well. In the moment, it doesn’t feel good, but we know in the deepest parts of us, it’s necessary for our own good. Think of the discipline it takes to get a masters degree, or a black belt in taekwondo, or to run a 10k, or achieve any valuable goal.
In my opinion, one of the greatest deficits in our broken society today, is the missing structure that brings healthy and loving discipline into young people’s lives.
Again…
~Unconditional high regard (love and grace)
~Personal responsibility
~Community accountability
Because these three things are missing from most of our broken systems, destructive cycles continue, and we are often times swimming against a swift and strong current of government dependence; a system that hands young people resources without the reward of a hard day’s work, broken tools without training, and a supply of help that leads to bo***ge rather than freedom.
I admit, this letter is a bit unusual for a “year-end ask”. Earlier this month we sent some of the good news and highlights. We love to share those stories! However, we know we are in this together. These kids are OUR kids and we need one another to see the trajectory of their lives changed.
Will you help us make the difference that changes lives?
Please invest in the lives of our youth and community.
https://transitionalyouth.givingfuel.com/transitional-youth-donation
May God richly bless you and your family this Christmas season, and every day in the New Year ahead!
Rhona Mahl
Executive Director
Transitional Youth / Braking Cycles
503-505-2919
www.TransitionalYouth.org
www.BrakingCycles.org
