Working in a PSA department, many years ago, really opened my eyes to the struggles of teenagers, most of whom were not being raised in a Christian environment. These kids had either social, emotional, or behavioral issues. I learned that year not to be judgmental, but to look beyond these issues to what was concerning for each child. I learned a most important lesson from these teenagers. I liked all the kids in that group, even though there was not one of them who did not have severe problems like the ones mentioned. They were all in the PSA department because they were no longer allowed in the regular classroom. They still needed their education, but were beyond fitting into a classroom.
I liked “Ross,” who was a Lutheran boy, but who ended up in a hospital, having been beaten up over a "drug deal gone bad.” I liked Stacey, and was always relieved when she came to school, because she was suicidal. Tanya, equally, was a very likable young lady, but always seemed “preoccupied” and had many unexplained bruises. Jim was likable, even though he had sprayed his classmates with Mace when he got angry. These kids were a handful, but lovable. They taught me a true appreciation for a Christian education. This was a public school, and we were not allowed to share Christ with them at school, and they needed Him so badly. These kids also taught me that even though they had their own set of problems, they were still lovable, and how I wished I could do more for them.
They weren’t “bad” kids. They were normal, needy kids that needed what they could not get in their homes. They weren’t getting love and forgiveness. They were branded.
Thank God for our Lutheran schools were we can deal with our students with Law AND Gospel. We can say that God loves them and forgives them. We can help our students see they don’t have to rely on themselves to solve their problems. God knows their hurts, their worries, their failures, and He’s always there to hold them up. He promises total forgiveness and the hope of eternal life.
It was not apparent that any of those kids knew Christ as their Savior. They had to depend on themselves. The solutions to their problems were not simple, by any means, but how could they have any hope at all if they didn’t know Christ as their Savior.
Thank God for Christian education and Christian teachers; thank God for Christian parents who value Christian education for their children. At least when these children face problems later in life, they will know where to turn!