Why we do it

I wanted to give you an update on Stacey and I's personal mentoring project. As you might remember two brothers Joshua and D.J. have become our new friends. We've been helping with their bus fare to get them to and from their GED class. We had them over for a Holiday meal and have been able to create a growing relationship.

The brothers come by my office every other day or so after class to check in with Errol the guy who made all this happen. While they are in they come and visit with me for a little bit. We talk about sports mostly, but we also talk about class, and whatever random thoughts 16 and 17 year olds come up with.

On Friday the brothers stopped by and it was cold in Atlanta. In the morning it had been 11 degrees outside. D.J., the oldest and most driven towards the goal, said to me "Mr. Phil, when I walked outside this morning I turned right back around and went inside because it was so cold. But then I thought Mr. Phil is paying for me to go to school, so I bundled up a little more and went."

That probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but it meant the world to me. It meant that a 17 year old with drug charges, breaking and entering charges, and non-charged criminal activity in his past, has gotten to the mindset that he is going to be disciplined to recognize that he is getting a second chance and going to make the most of it. Errol has done an amazing job of becoming a father to these boys and Stacey and I are honored to become encouraging friends and supporters.

With all the things that I work on and experience that don't seem to make an impact, I'm grateful that God gives me experiences like this relationship to keep me motivated to care. I'll admit I'm not a strong enough person to persevere without some sense of reward. But God knows that and works through me despite my flaws. That's amazing grace.