Curveballs & Conversations

Mentoring can be full of curveballs. One day you are riding in the car with a silent, distant kid, and the following week the floodgates of conversation open. Or you pick up your normally chatty, ‘can’t wait to tell you something’ kid, and there is silence in the seat as you travel to your next adventure together.

Peter & Jordan had a strong bond when Jordan experienced trauma. Jordan’s family was shattered & silence fell over his hurting heart. The only person other than his mom that he wanted to see was Peter. Peter was safe, and he understood Jordan’s need for quiet comfort. The ‘can’t wait to tell you something’ kid became that silent kid.

Peter kept praying up and showing up. Sometimes he would call me, and we would pray together. Calls to Mom often ended with prayer. Jordan slowly began to engage and even found himself laughing like old times. But never a word about the events that changed his family.

One day, during the devotions that Peter & Jordan did together, the topic of forgiveness came up. At the conclusion, Peter shared about a time in his life when he had to forgive someone, and he prayed and asked God to help him. Jordan’s response was to retreat into silence. The car ride toward home stretched in front of Peter as he continued in quiet prayer for his young friend, who clearly found the subject uncomfortable. As they approached the house, Jordan finally spoke the words that had been rolling around in his mind, ‘HOW DO YOU FORGIVE WHEN IT IS SO HARD?’

In a stopped car, just blocks from home, a locked door cracked open, and Peter stepped through it to walk beside Jordan as he began his journey of healing. It will take time, but that is mentoring, prayerfully following the curveballs that come your way.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort, we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 5: 3-4

Blessings,
Cathi