Thirteen

If I had a dollar for every time I've ever been asked why I work with junior highers, I'd probably have quite a bit of money. But the funny thing is, I couldn't give you one reason why I am a Small Group leader. I couldn't give you one reason why I sometimes teach Youth Classes in the summer. I couldn't give you one reason why I enjoy my job, which is doing things primarily for Middle School students. I couldn't give you ONE reason, because there is more than one student. More than one kid impacted by my words or my actions. More than one girl who sees truth in how I live, or how I've lived.

There are 13 girls in my Small Group this year on a regular Wednesday night. Thirteen. That's more than the combined total of my past two years of Small Groups. Thirteen wonderful, crazy, hyper, hormonal, loud, and fantastic girls. Thirteen reasons why I work with junior high. Thirteen lives that can be changed.

They are amazing, those junior highers that I work with. Yes, they can be completely insane. Yes, they tend to have poor hygiene. Yes, they have a pastor who's as crazy and hyper as them. But I truly believe, and have seen and experienced, the power of a single junior highers' dreams. The passion to really make a difference in their schools, their families, the world. They are an inspiration to me in more ways than one.

Thirteen is just a number to some. It's a small fraction of a group of over 150 junior highers. It's a group of girls that I am blessed to have in my life. Thirteen is my current answer of why I do what I do. Thirteen beautiful girls that I get to guide to the ONE who is Christ the Lord.