The youngest member of our team noticed the problem first: two boys at the Boys and Girls Club were about to pummel each other.
Matt, one of our adult leaders, went over to diffuse the situation. As Kyler and Ryan* talked through their differences, it came out that Kyler's parents were divorced.
Ryan ducked his head. "Mine too."
"I didn't know that," Kyler said.
It had just happened the night before. Ryan heard the back door slam and in the morning his mom said his dad wouldn't be back.
Kyler said he was sorry. He invited Ryan to a church group with him, Ryan accepted, and the two exchanged information. They then ran off to play together.
Matt sat back and was amazed at how the conversation unfolded. Such a raw wound in Ryan's life met by the tender touch of Kyler's heart. Two boys who hated each other turned into friends by finding common ground in a family's tragedy. Only God can orchestrate transformations like that.
*Names changed to protect the boys
All photos from Michelle Turnbow.
