A Goodbye Note


Robert, Jen and I are writing to say goodbye. For the past two years, we have had the extreme pleasure of being the adult leaders of the first Rite-13 class at St. John’s Church. Because the program aims to introduce into the teen’s life as many positive adult mentors as possible, two years is the total amount of time that any adult leader may lead. Our time is up.

As we think back on the lessons learned, we can’t help but smile and cry. Smile, because teens are not stereotypical. They made discoveries during each class to appreciate others and to live a deeper life that is more full of faith.

Some selected memories:

*Our long discussion on what we really need vs. what we really have—we discovered how blessed we were with our numerous pairs of jeans. Did we really need 5 to 10 pairs? Look at how others around the world live. What is our responsibility to them?

*When we looked closer to home: How do clean clothes mysteriously get put into our drawers? Who put them there? Do we take this person for granted? When was the last time we thanked them.

*What do we want our personal mission statement to be? How do we live our life today to reflect it? Could we be doing a better job.

*What is prayer? How do we pray? Do we need to be kneeling, can the lights be on? What should we be saying? Is it wrong to ask for things?

Through these two years, we were able to help 16 thirteen-year olds and their families transition through the Rite-13 Ceremony. We watched with wide eyes as the teens told their parents why they loved them and their parents sobbed during the rehearsal dinners. We were truly moved as their parents laid their hands on their teens shoulders during the ceremony and acknowledged their manhood and woman-hood and the beginning of their journey to adulthood. We all have a responsibility in their continuing journey.

Of course, it is difficult to say goodbye. When we think about all of the teaching that we did, we realize that in the end, we were not the ones teaching after all. We were the ones being taught, by some of the most talented members of our church. Our future was staring us right in the face and shining its brightest light on us. We thank each and every parent for sharing the gift of their teenager with us. And most of all, we thank every teenager for being a teenager with us. No, there won’t be any secret Sunday school (as some have requested). But we will be part of each of your lives forever—and we are watching you!

With Great Love,
Cathy Dailey, Jennifer Stevens & Robert Mood

(Posted May 30, 2008 by lela)