Totally exhausted and feeling great

Man, I am so tired. But it is that really good, satisfied feeling tired. Tonight was the official DIVE kickoff--310 kids ages 3-12 were there to have a great time and learn about Jesus. I love these kids soooo much, an my heart breaks for them. When children 10-11 years old are in trouble because they are caught smoking, cussing, including the "f" bomb, drinking, etc., yet no one offers them any hope. They are robbed of their innocence before they are even old enough to know what innocence is. They run the streets doing whatever they want whenever they want as long as they stay out of their parents way. Then one day, when they get caught doing something bad, the parents who didn't have time for them suddenly have the time to beat the crap out of them. I know not every troubled kid comes from that environment, and even among the kids I know I couldn't tell you which ones have homes like that, and which ones don't. What I do know is that with a positive influence who will be there consitently in the child's life, they can have a hope and a future. We have to introduce these kids to Jesus, but we must understand that they have heard it before. People like to do "charity work" in the neighborhoods with disadvantaged kids. Instead of telling them about Jesus, we must be Jesus to these kids. We must never forsake them. We must love them till it hurts, and believe me, when you truly love them, it hurts. But man is it worth it when those kids come running up to you saying "I love you." Those are words some of their parents may rarely hear. As I do what I do, thinking I am going out to minister to these kids and teach them about Jesus, I realize more and more that it is those kids who are ministering to me and teaching me more about Jesus every day I am with them. I can understand more clearly why Jesus always said suffer not the little children to come unto me.