Scribblage

Perks of the Job (Part 2)

As I mentioned in a different post (Perks Part 1), hanging out with youth girls is tough to do, but it is it's own kind of fun.  With guys, it's just chill... you don't have to think about anything, we're mostly hungry, and we need something active to do together.  Ok, maybe "active" isn't quite the right word because t.v. and Starcraft aren't quite the most active things to do.  But for me, it's definitely harder to be more intentional with guys than it is with girls, and I think that's just inherently relational in nature.

It's much easier to connect with girls through conversations than it is with guys.  If you've ever had or tried to stir up a conversation with a teenage boy, you'll inevitably find yourself searching for a way to get out of the "awkward silences" and or revert to talking about something related to sports, video games, or how we can do something stupid to injure ourselves (ok, that's somewhat over-generalized, but not totally untrue).

As a side note, I have yet to meet a teenage girl who does not think fondly or craves one of the following three things:

I take that back.  I have yet to find a teenage girl who doesn't crave ALL THREE of these things:  Ice Cream (or frozen Yogurt), Pad Thai, and Mashed Potatoes.  I don't know what it is about these three things.  They are like food groups to girls.

Yeah, yeah... there's vegetables and meats and poultry.  But I think they should make a different food pyramid for girls.  My pyramid, from my observations, should include the following groups for girls:

1)  Water

2)  Noodles

3)  Comfort Foods

4)  Desserts

5)  Salad on "light" days (or when on dates)

Anyway, as I was saying.  One of the perks of the job is having great conversations with girls who have so much to give.  Girls are definitely easier to talk to, and I have loved every deep and meaningful conversation I've had with my youth girls.  Some of them I see so much potential in them that just needs to be encouraged.  I wish I could do more, but as a guy, there's only so much that I can and should do.

I don't know what it is, but with youth ministry, there are always some older guys that are in the mix, but it's always been difficult to recruit and have some older ladies present.

I don't know why that is???  (Actually, I have some thoughts, but for a later entry)  And I have this scary feeling that because it is not modeled for them, these girls who are currently in the youth will also neglect serving their fellow sisters--especially ones that are younger than them.

If anything, my conversations with girls tells me that they need other girls--more experienced, wiser, empathetic, and seasoned women of faith--that will encourage them.  My hope is that they will be a different generation, though.

I won't even pretend I know what it's like to be a girl, so I won't even try.  But I've heard and prayed with many teenage girls about the many issues and pressures that bombard girls each day.

Ladies, there is nothing more attractive, nothing more beautiful, nothing sexier or amazing than a girl that is in love with their Heavenly Father.

Guys, same with you.