things that go bump in the night

This is a guest post written by my wife Betsi who has a passion for student ministry. She consistently invest her life into young girls helping them navigate their spiritual journey.

Okay…So I am sixty-one years young and have worked with teen gals most of my life.  But that doesn’t change the fact that I still have a lot to learn  . . . and having a “Sleepover/Movie Night” at my house while my husband was away was a great way to get a refresher course in Middle School Girls 101! 

Seven girls showed up with pillows, sleeping bags, cosmetic bags, cell phones, DVDs, and a varied assortment of snack foods. The snack foods all disappeared within two hours, and I was left to pull out everything I could find in my pantries and fridge and watch it consumed too! 

And the term “Sleepover”? Well, that’s a misnomer – as there was very little sleepin’ going on for most of the night.  After many silly games, some great movies and a pancake breakfast, I made these observations about Jr. High Girls:

• They’re oh so needy in so many ways, but just don’t quite realize it yet.
• They might have little bodies but they have BIG appetites!
• They are honest, forthright and hate hypocrisy!
• They love to be loved for just who they are – yes, and even nurtured.
• They are more forgiving than you think.
• They are struggling with self-image and trying to figure out just who they really are.
• They talk about “surfacy” concerns (like boys, songs, teachers, boys, school activities, boys, parties, etc.) but they think and hurt oh so deeply.
• They may be masking some desperate home situations that are a heavy burden they just don’t know how to share.
• They are not necessarily confident in their personal faith in Christ or the security that comes with a personal relationship with Him.
• They love opportunities and places (like our home) to just let their hair down and be silly, crazy, real and safe. 

Speaking of crazy, the girls’ favorite activity of the night was seeing which one could bumpety-bump down the wooden staircase the fastest on their…uh… bums (initiated by the girls themselves, of course)!

But for me, I’ll never forget their faces throughout the night as they laughed, cried, sang, danced and shared.  That was MY favorite!