Going to Mercy Street is always a blessing.  On this particular night we met a young man who had recently moved to West Dallas from Mississippi.  He was so friendly and was trying to make the best of his new situation.  Another boy was proud to show us his report card.  He had a grade of 93 in math.  Whoo-hoo!  That is something to celebrate.  I love getting to know the kids.

After a meal of stew, crackers, and brownies, the students gathered to listen to Dieula from Uplift Peak.  Uplift Peak is a charter school in East Dallas, and Dieula is a counselor there.  I got to the room at the end of her time with the middle-schoolers.

Dieula was so personable and animated. I wish I could have heard everything she shared.

When Dieula asked the children why people are angry their answer was “pain”.  We all should know that!

Dieula encouraged the students to get rid of anger by writing poetry.

Psalm 22:1-2 was given as an example:

My god, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?

My god, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night, but I find no rest. (b)

A more contemporary example shared was Kirk Franklin’s autobiographical Let It Go.

The first two lines of this rap wrenched my very being.

My mama gave me up when I was four years old

She didn’t destroy my body, but she killed my soul.

I find it difficult to comprehend the struggles that some children experience.

Dieula shared one angry child’s pain.

The girl lived in a household of seven children (fathered by three different fathers).

She had never met her biological father.

Two brothers were in rehab.

The “father” she had known had left.

Then:  Her biological father entered her life, and the angry child did not know how to handle the situation.  She asked, “Do I hug him?  Do I kiss him?  Do I set limits (on their relationship)?”  The questions went on and on.  Can you imagine?

Angry child was encouraged to write poetry to help her through her struggles.

The students then got into groups and were given the opportunity to write poetry to express their pain.  Later they would regather, and the ones that wanted to share could.  Perhaps some of these children will be able to shed some anger by writing poetry.  I pray they do.

While talking to Dieula at the end of the session, I learned that she has a degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in addition to her education degrees.  It was a blessing to meet her.

Blessings to you and yours,