The importance of sowing good seeds
The other week I received a phone call from an area code I wasn’t that familiar with. Normally I will just let it roll over to voice mail, but for whatever reason I decided to answer it. On the other end I heard the voice of someone I had not heard from for years. It was a young lady that I, along with a few others mentored some years ago. It was so good hearing from her. She told me that she spent around $30 for a location service to locate my wife and I only to hit a brick wall. She found an old e-mail address for my mom and that is how she was able to contact me.
As we talked, I couldn’t help but remember all the trials and tribulations I watched her go through over the years. When I first met her, I was single and in my mid twenties and she was still in high school. At that time I was working on a part time basis with a non-profit organization that targeted youth in my area. I was working in North Jersey at the time and a co-worker friend of mine told me about her and her family. I finally had the opportunity to meet her and her family at a conference in North Carolina and the rest was history.
The organization I was working with decided to relocate to Atlanta and it wasn’t long that I decided to do the same to work with them on a full time basis. It also wasn’t long that this young lady made the move as well after she graduated from high school to attend Clark-Atlanta U. This was a good move for her because her home life was not the greatest. In Atlanta, she had the comfort of knowing a few folks from Jersey that she could lean on whenever she needed us.
Long story short, during her time in Atlanta, life pitched her a series of curve balls — one of which resulted in a baby. By this time I was married and my wife and I loved her no less. When I left Atlanta and the rest of the East coast, I left behind many folks over the years I had spent time with helping them to grow into mature adults (quite a few of them I have no idea of their current whereabouts). Hearing from this young woman really made me happy as she has sent me pictures of her beautiful daughter. They are both doing fine and currently reside with family in Florida.
What really touched me was that her friend (another person whom I spent a lot of time mentoring), is doing very good as well. In fact, both of them went on this mini quest to find “Mr. Brayboy”. Like the first young lady, she too came from a very troubled background that I will not go into at this time. Today, she is happily married and also has a child.
To be completely honest with you, I am always quite hesitant talking about such things on this site because I never want it to seem that I am boasting (for once, I am at a loss of words—hopefully some of you understand what I am trying to say). In this case, I just feel downright proud and happy for them because despite the times of doubt, it was the Lord who ultimately carried these young ladies who have today arrived to womanhood.
Sometimes you really wonder if you have made a difference. Talking to this young lady answered that for me.
(P.S. They are planning to come see my family and I later this year. I am looking forward to it)
