Tough Love

Another update on the newcomer "Gabriella". I am not as optimistic as I was about her.

She called me during the week after court. I had put $40 on the books for her several weeks ago. She asked for money and I refused. I asked her why she wanted more money and she said she didn't want to suffer while in jail. I told her that I thought a little suffering was good for her at this point. And therein lies the rub.

Apparently, she got very resentful towards me over the remark. Her present situation in jail came about as a result of the woman who was ennabling her kicking her out and showing her some tough love. It resulted in her being homeless and the current charges and sentencing against her. She is resentful towards that woman for her tough love and resentful towards me for the same reason.

At today's visit she stormed out saying, "I am done with tough love people".

The truth of the matter is that I wasn't all that tough with her. $40 on the books is probably more than I should have given her. It certainly wasnt all that tough.

Anyway, that is where she is at.

Her plan of recovery after she is released on June 12 is to "crawl into bed" with some "friend" of hers who will let her stay there.

In other words, she plans on prostituting herself to avoid being homeless.

Doesn't sound like all that good of a recovery plan to me.

This is actually a very sad,sad situation. I am trying to encourage her to go to Teen Challenge for a year. Prayers for her will be appreciated. Working with newcomers can be hard on the heart.