“If you can’t be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.”

As adults we are constantly thinking about the problems we face in life, we often wish things were better and often overlook the obstacles a lot of our youth are facing.  When you learn about some of the situations our young members are going through and how much the Club helps them, as well as their families, get through their difficult times you could appreciate life a whole lot more.  During the past couple of weeks I have had more parents approach me with advice on how to help them deal with situations going on in their family’s lives because they look upon the Club for that guidance.  It is the parent who came back to work from being on disability because her cancer had returned only to get fired because she made a phone call from her cell phone to see if her daughter, who was left at home with strep, was ok knowing we couldn’t do anything but be a shoulder for her to cry on and someone to listen.  It is the parent who comes to you asking for advice on how and when to tell their 9 year old son, who is already dealing with being diagnosed with bi-polar,  that his father has less than three months to survive because his cancer has spread.  It is the thirteen year old that has already had over 50 surgeries and suffers from a sickness that he has to worry everyday about the air he breathes.  It is the 9 year old boy who was born autistic and with a brain defect who could not talk when he was younger nor read or write and has been in and out of hospitals all his life and now he is learning social skills, reading and writing out here.  It is the 8 year old that is constantly going to the doctor for check ups because he only has one functioning kidney.   These are just some of our wonderful youth that we serve each day and who depend on us to be a “safe haven” where all their troubles disappear.  We are not only a place for them to hang out in the afternoons but they also look up to us and depend on us for guidance to get through their difficult times.  So next time you start to think about some of the problems you are going through as an adult just think about what these precious youth are dealing with at such a young age and be thankful.