Some years ago at the residential counseling center for troubled teens, called Heartlight, we helped a girl through some particularly tough issues.

After a lot of hard work and the unconditional love of her parents, she was able to move on to a new life with both joy and celebration. And just recently, I tearfully watched her say her wedding vows. The bride wore a ring on both hands, one that we gave her to represent victory in her personal life, and her new wedding band.

At a special moment, she said to me, “I wouldn’t have my wedding ring without first having the ring you gave me.”

It’s a reminder that a teen’s future isn’t cast in stone. It can be steered in the right direction no matter how off course it’s been in the past.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Keep believing that your sons and daughters can turn emerge to be all God created them to be.

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