While working with so many kids of all ages throughout the years I have connected mostly with girls, but I have connected with a few boys along the way as well.  

The Jarhead. This young man was always polite around me. He came from a broken home and his story is full of some hard storied. However, he also has some good happy stories as well. He was one of the first and most consistent boys to call me momma T. I am proud of the young man he has become. I cannot wait to see him continue to grow and achieve great things. (In case you ever read this, my number is the same!) 

The Singer. I had one young man who was the first teen I ever got to pray with to receive Christ as their Savior. It made me so proud the night I prayed with him and say that it was so real in him. He made me so proud studying hard to learn verses and the different lessons we taught. He has now grown and become a musician, become more known each week. I pray that no matter where life takes him that he always remembers that night as well and strives to keep Jesus close.   

The Shadow. This young man was a lot and through him I learned some lessons. He had a rough home life growing up but had the potential to become an amazing man. I still think he has that potential, it just hasn’t been met yet. Through the years we had some ups and downs. Even times that he completely shut me out and would not speak to me. He has faced alot of difficulties in his life. I pray that God would strength him and pull him closer to Himself.  

The Football Guy. This young man has the same name as a football team; however, it is also close to a book in the Bible and bless his heart I kept calling him by the wrong name for the longest. He has the sweetest personality but is very protective of those he loves. He shocked me one day by referring to me as his momma too, I know we were starting to form a connection, but I did not realize he felt it too. I am very proud of the young man he has become. Even if we don’t talk now, I still feel honored that I got to meet him and call him son, even if it was just for a short time.  

These four boys are the only boys who ever called me momma. And while I never got as close to them as I have some of my girls, I still love them, and I am still routing for them. Getting love in return with teenage boys is definitely not guaranteed, but it was so worth showing them the love of Christ.