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THE BOYS OF OUR TOWN HAVE JOINED GANGS - Poem, Anonymous "THE BOYS OF OUR TOWN HAVE JOINED GANGS" Heavenly Father, look at our Home Boys
It wasn't so long ago they were playing with toys
But how they find pleasure in weapons and guns
Lord, who can help us out but You with our sons.
My God, I am frightened and tired of this violence
And of the shootings that break through the silence.
My prayer with tears reaches up to your throne
That in their hands be a Bible instead of a stone.
Father, I pray: "Stop this violence and hatred."
That you put in its place what is holy and sacred.
I know it can happen and evil will depart
If they find for You a place in their heart.
My God up in heaven, the boys of our town
Have joined in gangs. They are seeking a crown.
It isn't their fault that they fight their own rage.
Therefore, all the sadness is shown on their face.
Some of them grew up lonely, without happiness.
Their life's been a struggle and such a big mess.
While others had so much , there's really all kinds.
But they all need you in their hearts and their minds. 
To them life is just a long trip and ride
With so much they've done they're not satisfied.
The liquor and drugs work only a while
And without even realizing it took even their smile.
Father Almighty, fill our Home Boys with grace
That they fight the devil and not their own race.
For they are in darkness -- they see, but are blind.
Let them forgive and forget and love their own kind.
I know You can help them and also protect.
For you can see all things and trouble detect.
Things will get worse, the Bible does say,
But I also know things will change if we pray.
And Dear Lord, I also pray for each mother
Whose faith is not in you, but some religion or other.
Oh, Jesus, what's keeping them from coming to you?
Why can't they see that their sons would come too?
There are so many places where the truth they can learn --
all about You, your Truth and Concern.
You love us so much and made it so easy
There's no excuse, unless for you they're too busy.
Lord, you are coming and with you we'll depart
But for those who will stay the nightmare will start.
Jesus, I pray for our Home Boys you will wait,
That they will get ready and not be too late. Amen.
When a youngster joins a gang, he eventually finds himself having many enemies he may not even know. As time goes on, as a result of negative behavior and delinquent activity in the community, he ends up having to watch his back and keep an eye open at every turn. There is no rest. The gangster youth becomes defensive and secretive at home. At school he tends to take on a negative attitude that is displayed with teachers, counselors and other authorities. In all public places he finds himself having to play the part of a tough one who doesn't care much about anything.
The young gangster becomes a puppet for his gang leaders and those in his gang.
As most gang members tell us, they want to do right but feel overwhelmingly pressured to do as members and leaders of the gang say. They must show up at places others designate and perform activities they know are wrong and get them in trouble. Someone else pulls the strings, and they perform.
While it may be difficult to do, we must remember that gangsters of any age are people, too, They are souls on this earth alongside us. These individuals wth feelings, hopes and dreams also want the best for themselves but may often be trapped in a lifestyle they did not realize would turn out the way it did. Delinquent behavior has a way of wrapping one in a web that may have no apparent opening and may squeeze one to limits others cannot begin to imagine.
Parents are the key to prevention. Even a single parent can do wonders to prevent a child from becoming entwined in the puppeteer's strings. Being there for the child with a good attitude and open communication is the start.
Churches in the community must step up to the plate and become directly involved in inviting kids to church, providing regular activities, walking the streets and talking to families about the love of Christ and his salvation power. Churches must help give the community hope. Too, they must pray and pray and pray for the safety and well-being of the members of the community and wisdom for community leaders.
Government and law enforcement are just part of the solution. Accountability and responsibility for gang involvement begin with parents. The signs are very obvious and there is ample opportunity to turn the situation around when discovered early. All too many parents, however, ignore the various obvious signs and sit back and refuse to get positively involved in their child's life. Inaction stems from a decision, just as action does.
A focus by parents must be placed on good character and education.
Each member of the community should play a part in making the community better by offering his time and talents to whatever action can make the community a better place -- person by person, starting at home. You? What will you do? What part will you play? The community waits.
It does take a village. That village is us.
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THE GANGSTER'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please hear me tonight,
I need so much guidance to live my life right.
Sometimes the pressure is so hard to bear.
I often wonder if anyone cares.
How can I wake up and face a new day
knowing I have to live my life this way?
Heavenly Father, forgive all my sins,
I want to change, but where do I begin?
Please give me strength
To resist the wild life I desire;
And God, bless my mother who cries every night
Worried if I'll be killed in another gang fight.
Heavenly Father, please answer my prayers
Let me know if You are listening up there.
When will it all end? What is it for?
To prove to my homies I'm down, I'm hardcore?
Sometimes I wonder, how will I die,
A bullet wound, or a knife in my side?
Heavenly Father, please hear me tonight.
Give me the courage and strength to live my life right.
Show me the way. Show me the light.
Help give my heart peace, so I won't have to fight.
Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord
And for still being there,
But most of all
Thanks for listening to this Gangster's Prayer.
El Paso
Dona Ana County, NM
LETTER FROM A PARENT TO ALL TEENS
Dear Ann Landers:
I don’t know what it feels like to hear the words that two sets of parents received this past weekend. Like every other parent, I don’t ever want to know. I’m not sure I am strong enough to handle it. So, this is to the teen-agers. It’s a message and a prayer. It’s from us to you.
We were once just like you--just as young and darling. We were once sure that our parents had no clue as to what we wanted or what we were about. We were once, scared to death to face that world. We were once like you.
The only real difference between us as parents and you as teen-agers is a lot of “been there’s, and done that’s.” And, believe me, a lot of our “done that’s” were just as dumb and silly and dangerous and exciting as anything you’ve done or will do. That’s why we worry.
We made it through. We got older. We fell in love. We got married. we had you. That means we sat up endless nights while you were a baby. We changed you when you were wet. We fed you when you were hungry. we held you when you cried. We
fretted over you when you were sick.
We watched you take your first step. We made stupid faces to see you laugh. We listened to your first words. We bragged about you at work. We carried pictures of you in our wallets and put others on our desks.
We sent you off to your first day at school. We kept your drawings and school projects. We put your birthday cards on the refrigerator. We watched you in your first play. We cheered for you when you made the team. We drove you everywhere. We
worried about whether you’d be popular, and then, when you were, we worried about your friends.
We were angry when we shouldn’t have been. We asked you questions we shouldn’t have. We made mistakes and hurt your feelings. We didn’t say, “I’m sorry” or “I love you” often enough. We argued with you. We laughed with you. We stayed
awake in bed when you stayed out later than your curfew.
We watched you change before our eyes into strong young men and women who were about to leave us. We were scared and happy and sorry at the same time.
We want to see you become firefighters and doctors and lawyers and policemen, merchants, pilots, beauticians, teachers, librarians, and forest rangers. We want to talk with you about how exciting your work is. We want to listen to you tell us how dumb or mean your boss is.
We want to see you meet the man or woman of your dreams. We want to see you fall in love and do the same crazy things we did. We want to pass you a few dollars to help you through the rough stops. We want to see you have children and watch you start all of this all over again.
The thing we’re most afraid of is that, sometimes, those things we worry about happen. Sometimes, for no rhyme or reason, you’re taken from us by things beyond our control. Sometimes, we never get to see or do the things that I’ve talked about because you’re not here anymore--and that is a hurt that cannot be described.
So, this is for you, the teen-agers out there. It’s the same thing parents have said to their children forever. It’s the same thing you’ll say to your children . They’ll feel the same way about hearing it from you as you do when hearing it from us.
Please. Be careful.
We love you.
You’re all we really have.
