a Love Came Down Story

by A.p. 

Love Came down at Christmas is such a simple phrase that has a more complex meaning.  In 2015 I was lost.  I honestly didn’t know who I was, or where I belonged.  I got into trouble and landed myself in the juvenile justice system and then on probation.  Growing up I was in and out of the foster system.  When I witnessed my older brother being handcuffed and put in a police car I told myself, “I will never be in that situation.”  At a young age, I had to learn how to be older, how to be responsible, and how to take care of myself.  I was never able to just be a kid.  I had four younger siblings who needed me.  I had to be a good example.  My younger siblings and I were adopted in 2009.  Years went by, there were good and bad times. 
I was only 15 years old when I truly felt like I let my siblings down.  When I got handcuffed in front of my siblings, it broke my heart.  I remember telling myself, “I’m no better than my brother.  My siblings are never going to look at me the same.”  I knew that because I never saw my brother the same.  Then when I was processed and charged – I knew it was real.  At that moment I knew I really messed up.  But at the time I didn’t care.  I kept thinking to myself, “Just do what you need to do to get out. No one will care about you.  They just see you as just another troubled punk teen.”  When I was put on probation it was a week before my 16th birthday.  I was only supposed to be on probation for six months. I kept doing things to get in trouble.  I had taken every class, every training, every exercise, until they had nothing else to give me.  I stood in front of a judge and I remember him telling me that they had nothing left for me.  My options at that point were to join an anger management program or to sit the rest of my time in a cell in the Williamson County Juvenile Justice facility.  And I really didn’t want to do that.  The next meeting I had with my probation officer I hold him that I wasn’t going to go back into custody.  He handed me a paper and told me, “Good, because I don’t want to see you back in there.” 
Once a week for six weeks at 6 p.m. my mom dropped me off at a church. There I met a man by the name of Isaac Rowe.  He was the teacher of the anger management class.  He wrote a book called I Love Anger, which is kind of ironic.  I honestly learned so much in that class.  Now I did still get into trouble at home, but nothing as bad as before.  Once I finished that class he told us about a “group” for “troubled youth” that met every Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. called Reset Mentoring.  At the time I didn’t have a good relationship with my family, so any time I could find something to do away from home I did it.  At first, that’s all it was about for me.  Then I actually started enjoying myself. Reset Mentoring slowly became a home away from home.  I made friends and the adults there didn’t see me as a screw-up.  They saw me as a kid that needed guidance and help. 

I am twenty-one years old and I still attend the Thursday night group.  I am now a leader, a volunteer, and help plan Reset Mentoring's annual events.  Every year Reset Mentoring throws a Christmas party. From serving food to giving every kid in the program, not just one present, but multiple presents.  And for some kids, that’s the only Christmas they get.  I have come so far since I started the program, and now I get to witness this program change the lives of so many young teens.  For me, the phrase Love Came at Christmas means, no matter where you are in life, there are always people who will understand and will be willing to help you.  The mistake(s) you made don’t define who you are. There is always a place for you, normally it’s where you least expect it. Reset Mentoring is a “home” for the kids that don’t have one.  I am so blessed to be a part of such an amazing thing.  My name is Angel, I am 21 years old, and I have made mistakes, but I learned from them.  I just want to say thank you to everyone that helped me through the hard times and taught me everything I have learned.  Now it’s my turn to help others with the knowledge I have gained over the years.  Now the exciting question is, “What’s next for me?” ​

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What is "Love Came Down at Christmas"? 

Have you ever wondered what Christmas is like for Reset Mentoring's teens? While we are decorating, many of our teens are wondering if they will have electricity or water or food in their house, much less a Christmas dinner or gifts under a tree. 

In the past when some of our teens were asked what they do for Christmas they stated:
•    Nothing special, my mom won’t have money until she gets her taxes.
•    We’ll cook whatever we have in the house.
•    We don’t have a tree, that’s only for rich people.
•    Now that I’m older (13) I don’t get gifts so there's money for the little kids' gifts.

Have you ever been touched by God’s extravagant love?  That is what Reset Mentoring's Love Came Down at Christmas is for our at-risk teens.  It is a time during which they are shown extravagant love.  A way of saying God sees you.

When we asked the teens to provide us a wish list so that someone could "adopt" them (their gift) for Christmas, we heard comments such as these:
•    It can be anything?  Not something really expensive, but anything?
•    Why would someone want to get me a present?

How can you show god's extravagant love this year? 

•    Volunteer to donate a teen's Christmas gift (maximum value $50)
•    Sponsor a gift making table/Help prep gift making items
•    Cook a side dish for a Christmas meal

To become part of this year’s big Christmas events during which the teens will make gifts for their family members, eat a full Christmas meal, and get to hear the greatest love story ever told, email [email protected]. ​