Friends Lost and Found

An unexpected thanks came my way yesterday and was a day brightener! I teach academics to juvenile inmates at our county jail. I was in the jail lobby waiting to be escorted. Normally I have to wait only a few minutes, but yesterday it was an hour! The longer I was waiting, the more frustrated I felt.

I watched a young gentleman enter the lobby and immediately recognized his face. Josh. I tutored Josh a few years ago when he was suspended from school. He was very vulgar, put on a tough act and constantly challenged anything I tried to teach him. In time, he mellowed out some and I actually enjoyed working with him. As a reward for getting assignments done, Josh and I would play “Five Crowns”. While we played the card game, Josh would share a little about his upbringing and the many different homes that he lived in. His suspension ended and I knew that he was headed to California for the summer.

Josh nodded at me and asked if I was the lady who taught him at the community center. I nodded “yes” in response. He wanted to know why I was sitting in the jail lobby. So I told him that I’m a teacher at the jail now. He then stepped over to the receptionist’s window and inquired about getting an I.D. picture taken. While Josh was talking, an older man entered the lobby and stood in line behind him.

An officer finally came out to escort me and I heard Josh holler, “Wait! Wait!” I turned and gave him a puzzled look. Josh then said, “I know I gave you a lot of grief when you taught me. I also know you were stubborn and didn’t give up on me. I have changed a lot and I’m really getting my life on track. Umm…thanks for teaching me.” The older gentleman smiled and put his arm around Josh and said, “Yes, thank you. I feel like I have my grandson back. He’s turning into a fine young man.”

I told Josh that I was proud of him and that I hope he continues to go after his dreams. As the officer escorted me to the classroom, he said, “It makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it?” And he’s right…seeing a life changed, certainly makes it all worthwhile and it even made having to wait an hour worth it.

So, have you told someone thank you lately? I know I have a few people I want to contact.

Listen to your heart…

Tags: emotions, heart, mentoring, reunite

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 2:58 am and is filed under Readers stories, Reunion Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.