I was a police officer for 25-years and spent my last 15 years working with juveniles. I dealt with the toughest, meanest, most lost young folks around. Some were genuinely evil. Young Jeffrey Dahmers. Frightening children. But most were simply angry, lost souls. And I came to really love them.
I was a police officer for 25-years and spent my last 15 years working with juveniles. I dealt with the toughest, meanest, most lost young folks around. Some were genuinely evil. Young Jeffrey Dahmers. Frightening children. But most were simply angry, lost souls. And I came to really love them.
Ten years after retirement, I’m hiking in Bandelier National Forest in New Mexico and I hear a woman calling me by name. What the heck? I’m literally in the middle of nowhere. A young woman, a National Park Service ranger runs up to me, throws her arms around me and I recognize her as one of my “girls” who I worked with years before. I tell her how proud I am to see her squared way and in a good profession. Her words struck me to my heart. She told me that I was the reason she was a park ranger because I was tough on her as a teenager but she knew I loved her. And that I was always fair. She knew about my love of the outdoors and thought being a ranger would be a good way to honor me. Even knowing I might never know about it. What are the odds that we’d meet up, ten years later and 2500 miles from home, in the middle of nowhere? God works in wonderful ways.
I’ll forever be grateful to God for the teachers, social workers, wilderness camp counselors, rehab workers, police officers, fellow concerned parents, and so many more people who helped us help our daughter go from drugs and self destruction to where she is today … a medical doctor.
Before I reached your last sentence, the words flowed into my mind, "God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform". Blessings on you, blessings on that grown-up child. One just never knows the outcome of one's deeds, which is a pretty scary thought. Better stay on the narrow path, for sure.
These days people would just publish “#I love you and support you” on their social media and call themselves a caring person 🤦♀️ I see very few truly loving people willing to put themselves out.
I was a police officer for 25-years and spent my last 15 years working with juveniles. I dealt with the toughest, meanest, most lost young folks around. Some were genuinely evil. Young Jeffrey Dahmers. Frightening children. But most were simply angry, lost souls. And I came to really love them.
Ten years after retirement, I’m hiking in Bandelier National Forest in New Mexico and I hear a woman calling me by name. What the heck? I’m literally in the middle of nowhere. A young woman, a National Park Service ranger runs up to me, throws her arms around me and I recognize her as one of my “girls” who I worked with years before. I tell her how proud I am to see her squared way and in a good profession. Her words struck me to my heart. She told me that I was the reason she was a park ranger because I was tough on her as a teenager but she knew I loved her. And that I was always fair. She knew about my love of the outdoors and thought being a ranger would be a good way to honor me. Even knowing I might never know about it. What are the odds that we’d meet up, ten years later and 2500 miles from home, in the middle of nowhere? God works in wonderful ways.
I’ll forever be grateful to God for the teachers, social workers, wilderness camp counselors, rehab workers, police officers, fellow concerned parents, and so many more people who helped us help our daughter go from drugs and self destruction to where she is today … a medical doctor.
What a beautiful story! That was a job well done.
Before I reached your last sentence, the words flowed into my mind, "God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform". Blessings on you, blessings on that grown-up child. One just never knows the outcome of one's deeds, which is a pretty scary thought. Better stay on the narrow path, for sure.
Wow. I have dust in my eyes after reading that. You are truly an angel on Earth. ❤️
These days people would just publish “#I love you and support you” on their social media and call themselves a caring person 🤦♀️ I see very few truly loving people willing to put themselves out.
No coincidences in Gods world! You needed that to realize your efforts were not for nothing! If one life is saved, know it was worth it
❤️❤️❤️👍🏻
Yes HE does! Thank you for sharing.
God sure does! Great share ty♥️🙏🏻
I love that and God bless you!!!!💜💜
What a gift to her and you!
He most certainly does Cindy. 🥰🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
We should never, ever, forget that we are here on this Earth to learn Love, and that means giving it to even "the least of us".
❤️❤️❤️