Happenings at my school.

I work at (edited) High School.
Home of the Mighty (edited).

Last week one of my students was arrested for stealing over $10,000 worth of items from teachers and students.
That is a felony charge.

Last weekend a student from my school was shot in the neck and killed by his father.
His father came home drunk and was looking for a video game.
His son got up to get it for him, his father thought that he was going to hide it.
He shot him in the neck.
His mother cannot afford a funeral.
The student body is raising money for his funeral.

Two weeks ago 3 girls were found making out, naked on the bathroom floor.
During school.

This week, a student crutched into my room with a very broken foot.
I asked why he didn't have a cast on.
He said his family couldn't afford it and that as long as he didn't put pressure on it he would be OK.
He was a soccer player.

I have a student who falls asleep everyday in class.
I was annoyed.
I held him after class and asked him why.
He said that he worked the night shift because his dad was in jail and his mom needed help with bills.
How can I get mad at that?

I have a student who has two T-Shirts.
He wears one one week and the other the next.
He alternates weeks.

This morning during our "Halloween" Warm-Up I asked if Dracula was real.
A student said, "I thought Dracula was a dinosaur. Like a BIG one."

OK, so the last one is more funny than anything.

But seriously.

WHAT IN THE WORLD.

How am I supposed to affect these students?
How can I show God's love and plan?
I've never been beaten by my dad, I've never been shot by my dad, my family can afford to buy index cards for flashcards, my family can afford to fix a broken bone, my dad actually told me NOT to get a job during college so that I could focus on school.

How am I supposed to affect these kids when I have no idea what they are going through.
They have experienced more life than I ever want to.

How can I show them that there IS a God?
How can I show them that there is a God who LOVES them?

I feel so naive.
I feel so spoiled.
I feel so innocent.

Of COURSE I believe in God.
My life is perfect.
My family is perfect.
I don't have money issues.
I can afford healthy foods.
I can afford new clothes.

How can I show kids who have a COMPLETELY different life than I do that there is a God without them rolling their eyes at me and saying, "easy for you to say" ?

I desperately want to give them everything that I have.
Not because "I don't deserve it."
Because I WANT to.
Because I CAN.
Because I can afford another one.
Not just things.
I want to give love, assurance, safety, comfort, a hug.
NO, I do not think that it should be government mandated.
NO, I do not think that it is the government's job to take care of them.
It is a heart issue.