I have worked with youth groups through my church for years. In different capacities but always with teenagers and I LOVE it! Teenagers are so awesome! They are energetic, open to learning and funny. I find them to be open with me, helpful and can be agreeable if bribed with candy. When I am at church functions, I actually prefer to hang out with the kids more than the adults. I’m not a weirdo or anything, I just find them to be more genuine than most adults. What you see is what you get. They generally don’t act phony.
Currently, I am the leader over a group of girls age 12-13. (I just finished an almost 7 year stint teaching an early morning class to high school age kids.) We usually do activities on Wednesday nights but this week we met on Friday night to go a horse farm to learn about care of horses, ride the horses and roast hot dogs over a fire.
We got a little lost getting there. We were on county roads passing farms and fields and rolling hills. To make the best of it, we blasted the radio, sang really loud and “mooed” at all the cows we passed. There were a lot of cows. (We were in the country in Wisconsin after all!)
No worries, we got there.
The girls got to groom the horses, ride the horses, chase the geese and chickens, eat hot dogs, giggle and toast marshmallows. The farm was beautiful and the owner of the farm was so gracious and patient with all the girls.
On the way home we played “truth”. It’s “truth or dare” but without the dares. Nothing off limits and nothing leaving the car. Here’s what I know and learned about these beautiful, sweet and sometimes vulnerable girls…
They just want someone to listen to and hear them. They want to feel pretty and loved. They have fears and care very deeply for their loved ones. What they are feeling at this point in their lives is very real and matters to them. They can be hurt deeply but want to forgive and move on. They dream about their futures with very little limits. They want to be understood. They can eat a lot. They really do think about boys 95% of the time. They make me laugh and they make my heart ache.
“Mooing” at the cows made me forget how tired the week made me, and it made me forget about all the things I had to do at home. It just made me feel silly and happy and totally in the moment.
I’ve really liked cows lately. I find looking at them peaceful. I really want a cow painting by the artist Cindy Austin. I already have the wall space picked out! Check out her website; cindyaustinpaintings.com and look at the cows, “Moonalisa”, “Clairebelle” and my favorite “Ealalie”. The blue sky behind her is heavenly!
Someday, Ealalie, you will be mine!
When is the last time you “mooed” at the cows?
Vintage Hearts At Home 