During a recent walk across our beautiful campus in the Village of Boys Town, Nebraska, I happened upon a five-point star decal laying on the ground.
The star, an emblem of our sports teams, the Boys Town Cowboys, must have been attached to an athletic jersey or a piece of sports equipment. From the looks of it, the star had been on the ground for some time; it was dirty, worn and ragged.
I picked up the star with the intention of dropping it in the nearest trash can. Picking up trash around campus is a habit I have, and I encourage our employees to do the same to keep our beautiful Village clean and tidy.
But when I got to the nearest receptacle, I couldn’t let go of the star. It suddenly occurred to me that this dirty, weather-beaten decal was just like the boys and girls who come to us for a second chance at life.
They used to be attached to something or someone, but they were left on their own.
They used to be clean and pristine, but they’ve been scarred by abuse and neglect — physically, emotionally and spiritually.
They used to belong, but they were discarded.
They are America’s throwaway children, and they all need the compassionate, life-changing care Boys Town provides.
I took the star home with me, washed it off, clipped off the frayed edges and polished it up. When I was done, it was as good as new.
That star now sits on a shelf in my office, a reminder of how we give a new life to kids who come to Boys Town.
We pick them up, dust them off and get them back on their feet. We give them a safe home and caregivers who have their best interests at heart. We teach them skills and behaviors that will put them on a path to success.
When they leave our residential program or graduate from high school, they not only look brand new on the outside but also have a powerful inner spirituality that enables them to show their light to the world. They have been strengthened in body, mind and spirit, and they are prepared and eager to take on the challenges the world has to offer.
At Boys Town, we’re helping a whole galaxy of young stars who can’t wait to shine again.
For more information about how you can support Boys Town’s life-changing services,
visit boystown.org.
