Worthy

She feels the stares. She sees the looks of judgment. She hears the whispers behind her back, but no voice is as loud as the one in her head. Unworthy. 

She came to RETA’s Christmas Store in December. The vision of gifts under the tree was all but nonexistent for this mother of ten. Months earlier, they had been homeless and living out of a car. Now with a roof over their heads, life was better, but she and her husband could hardly make ends meet, let alone provide for Christmas. They left RETA that day with gifts for their children, but even better, a commitment to our mentorship program. 

Building trust-based relationships is at the heart of RETA’s Mentorship program. Vulnerable and humble, our mentors invite the mentees into their lives, sharing with them everyday things, and more importantly, sharing their faith and joy in knowing Christ. 

Today, this client’s teenage daughter baked cookies with her mentor. As they mixed, scooped, and baked, they seamlessly addressed so many nuances of adolescence while also exploring faith. Side by side, they created bonds. Side by side, they uncovered joy. 

Weekly, this client comes to us, sometimes with family members, sometimes alone. Weekly, we encourage and empower her while addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Weekly, she comes closer to realizing the truth about herself, the truth that in God’s eyes, she is WORTHY.