By Judah Williams, Development Director
As time goes on and the years pass, it becomes more and more apparent just how valuable happy memories are. There are 365 days in a year, and realistically, only a few of those days really stick with us for years to come. At Youth-Reach Houston, we believe in investing in lasting memories for our boys that they can cherish for the rest of their lives.
When a young man enters Youth-Reach, it’s common for him to imagine that this won’t exactly be the most fun year of his life. New residents often anticipate hard work, trying times and at least a year away from home that will drag by at a snail’s pace. What few boys anticipate is what the majority of our guys get to experience here: memories they will never forget. Many of the boys at Youth-Reach even get to enjoy many firsts during their time here, like their first professional sporting event, first camping trip, or even their first time at the theater.
While these fun events are certainly memories to value, oftentimes the ones that really stick with our boys are the ones that make them feel loved and seen. One area where this really hits home is the celebration of birthdays—more specifically, celebrating these young men as the sons they are. The staff and boys gather for a night of cake and ice cream (our dear friend Mrs. Mikie Bellis even makes them a custom dessert of their choice), fellowship and lots of laughs. But the special part really begins once we start our time of affirmations. This is when we open the floor for everyone to offer loving words and encouragement to the birthday boy, and there is always much to say. In the end, we lay hands on him and pray over him as he begins his new season of life.
It’s not uncommon for a boy to come to us with more bad memories than good, and we’re thankful to have a small part in what the Lord is doing to change that. We are also incredibly grateful for those who have supported us in doing so. More so than any event or occasion they may experience here at Youth-Reach, we pray that each boy remembers that this was a place where they felt truly loved and valued.
