We Plant & Water
One of the challenges we don't often talk about is the unfortunate reality when our clients choose to exit our program sooner than we anticipate.
The truth is, we never want to force people into staying. We adhere to our mission, which is to provide the opportunity for life change.
Unfortunately, last week, one of our clients chose to exit our program. We made every effort to advocate for them to stay, highlighting the significant improvements in their life and the potential milestones still ahead. However, they had already made the decision to leave our program.
Although we didn't endorse their choice to leave, there is an uplifting aspect to this story.
“I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
This individual was homeless, living under a bridge for two years. They entered our program, familiar only with a life of chaos. Remarkably, they left in significantly better condition than when they arrived.
Instead of returning to the streets, they found a good friend with whom they would be living and signed a renter's lease.
Starting with no money, they graduated from our program having saved just under $700—an achievement that may not seem substantial to some but was the most they had ever saved in their young life.
The moral of the story is quite simple. We strive to invest and pour into each of our clients during the time window we have in their lives. While we may not always agree with their decisions, we will always value and love them.
Despite the feeling that they left prematurely, we can find solace in the fact that they departed in better condition than when they arrived.
It's these small victories that we can celebrate. It's the small seeds we planted that we can uplift in our prayers. Continue to pray for our clients.
“On our best days we do a good job at controlling ourselves. ”
On our best days we do a good job at controlling ourselves. To clarify, we acknowledge our limited influence over others' lives, unable to dictate their actions or methods. Instead, our role is to earnestly strive to ignite positive transformations. In essence, we metaphorically plant the seed, nurture it, and entrust the ultimate growth to a higher force.
