But then there's the quieter voice, the voice I hear less often: "Keith. I understand you need to invest in your studies and in college activities. But can't you see? don't you understand? Children and youth are being molded right now--their bodies growing and their minds shaping now. They will not wait for you. I get that you think you need to focus on you, but these kids can't wait till tomorrow, till you feel ready. They're being overwhelmed with influences, influences slamming them left and right, influences that won't wait for you. If you really care, if you really want to make a difference, drop your excuses and your fears. Be one more positive influence in these kids' lives now. And I'm not talking about the occasional Bible study or Focus trip or basketball game. Youth are more important than that, and what they need is so much more. They need long-term investment. Yeah, it's more demanding. But the world's influences? Relentless. These lives can't afford for you to wait any longer."
"We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made and his senses are being developed.
To him we cannot answer 'Tomorrow'. His name is 'Today'." (Gabriela Mistral, 1948)
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