From the Desk of Jill Keenon, Operations Director:
I (Jill) was told recently that you are to take 10,000 steps a day to be fit. I now have a pedometer, and I was using it the last few days. I consider myself a hyper person and thought I must get close to that. Most days it was barely 5,000 steps and on one of those days I moved furniture up and down the stairs for a few hours.
Today I took a walk and have made it 12,000 so far. The point of all this is that we have perceptions of ourselves that are way off the mark. We really need to look at what is reality and what is our perception, and then adjust accordingly with God's help. I have been reading slowly and consciously Psalm 27. It has a lot of good things to say about fear and letting go and trusting the Lord. It asks the Lord to teach him to be honest with himself as well as with the Lord. That is what I am talking about with us not being honest about how we are. Start taking a look at yourself this week and see what you come up with.
- As I write this I have Melissa in my office crying because I won't let her go downstairs and throw up because I fed her (literally) about ten bites of food for dinner. This is very hard for her but I really need Jesus strength because this is very stressful for me. All day she needs me. I set boundaries but she is so needy. Pray for us. I see some hope lately but it is hard.
- Pray for Margie and some family issues.
- Pat is still lying.
- Pray for us as we work on the situation at the Coloma home.
- Carmen needs to face some hard issues and it appears she is trying to start but her stuff is deeply ingrained and will need some real eye opening. Pray for her to heal some very deep scars.
- I start back at school tomorrow and I will need prayer for how fast paced it will be. Pray for Joel and Hilly too.
- Pray for the Bowl-A-Thon to raise a good amount of money.
- I feel like I (Jill) am always complaining about all that I have to do. Forgive me for my selfishness. God has mightily blessed us and he will sustain us through what he has given to us.
- We are working with two families. One has an ADHD son who is so sweet but is so distracting and angry that one moment it is fun to be with him and the next you realize you have gotten nowhere profitable, except to be his friend. That helps and may build a relationship, but we need to have a follow through on his part to stop swearing at his Mom especially. He is down from many times daily to three times a week. His anger from school and bullies is vented on Mom.
- Paul is seeing several boys a week and wisdom to come from his heart through his mouth. He is a sounding board for many young men and boys but worries he is not giving them the wisdom they need.
This week I have had a serious burden (Paul). I don't know how to explain it. My heart is heavy but I think it goes much deeper and sadder than that. Is it depression? Is it pure concern without knowing how to fix "it?" This seems to go all the way to my soul. Have you felt that kind of concern before?
My concern is that four young women we have in our lives, and are trying to help, seem to be stuck financially, emotionally, mentally and are jobless with children and no apparent way out with out serious professional help; lawyers, doctors, psychotherapists, etc. They have little or no thread to keep them for utter disaster. I feel helpless. I am supposed to be the one with the strength and resources. If you want to help mentor (strong older woman only) or help professionally, please call me.
It was so beautiful today. Please enjoy each day of this week.
peace
justice
In Christ's Service for the Community,
Paul & Jill Keenon
Open Door for Teens, Inc.
