This past shabbos I went to a kiruv shabbaton for high school kids. Friday night my girls and I were sitting in bed eating potato chips and talking (while I cringed but kept quiet because I HATE when people eat on my bed!)
One of the girls goes to public school and has a difficult family situation. She is 17 and has a 22 year old non Jewish boyfriend… the kind that has tattoos and you don’t want to disappoint. She told us all that she loves coming to these shabbatons and they always make her want to keep shabbos, but its very difficult for her because of peer pressure, and her family. She also commented that she kinda feels like she already went so far down that its not even worth it to try and be good again… that she wont be forgiven for all the horrible things she’s done.
My heart broke for her. I almost started crying right there. I told her that Hashem loves her and if she regrets it, then she’s forgiven. I kept telling her this over and over, trying to get that message through to her! I told her that she doesn’t need to start doing everything at once, but she could start with one tiny thing… like for example- to just stop drinking non kosher drinks. No one would know about it but her. I gave her a few more little things she could do, that would be amazing changes, but wouldn’t change her life style at all. And then when she’s ready, she can move on to bigger things.
I came to the shabbaton to inspire these kids, but I came away inspired myself. This girl, who is in a situation so much more difficult than mine, still wants to grow and try to implement religion into her life. How could I not?!
(BTW, Saturday night, she called her boyfriend and broke up with him!)
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9 comments:
:-)
Great story from my point of view! Keep helping others and Hashem will always help you when you need him!
Wow. Good job.
hahaha
And a 17yr old girl should not be with a 22yr old dude.
This was clearly your best post yet. You are a natural in Kiruv work.
Actually, it makes me sad, thinking about all the girls I met over the years, that feel as lost as the one in your post, if not more so.
Only thing is, they come from good heimish homes.
Wow. Many people would not have had the strength to breakup with him. Now I'M inspired!
That's great how you were able to be there for the girl, and motivate her. And glad that you got inspired from it too!
This is how it should be; we all have so much to learn from each other -- it doesn't always have to be seen as different, seperate levels.
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