Observations of a High School Sub- my cuffs!

I was subbing in a double block High School class (That's 3 hours!). The class only had 8 girls. We had approximately 45 minutes worth of work, but no problem... girls can talk! During the conversation, I overheard one gal say "Man, they made my cuffs too tight!" Another girl commented "They did that to me when I got cuffed as well!" Girls! I asked, Why did you get cuffed? One young lady went on to explain her poor judgement in stealing from a grocery store. Then the other girl offered her story.

There was a shooting in her neighborhood, when she heard the shots she took off running. The cops thought she knew something and pursued her. When they caught up with her, they cuffed her & took her in for questioning. I asked, "What happened to the person who got shot?" Her response, "Oh, he was shot 5 times, he died". "Did you know know him?" I responded. "Yeah...I knew him and the shooter, but I didn't tell the cops who the shooter was." Everyone was listening.... I responded. "That must have been traumatic for you" "Ma'am", she said, "It should have been traumatic, but in my neighborhood that is just the way it is!"

This is Charlotte, not New York City, Yet this is a very real part of Charlotte, the city I live in. There are so many needs around us if we just stop and notice. This is not my side of town, not my neighborhood, yet, this is still my city. My heart went out to this young lady. When I think of her, I pray for her. Our world needs Hope.... (Romans 15:13)