I have shared before that Chaplain Rick Jones, Vice President of Spiritual Life at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, writes daily devotions for staff at the Ranch. Reading them are some of the best moments of my days, as they give me a chance to center and wrap myself in the warmth of knowing we are doing God’s work. And why.
This one is great and really lays out how we see our work. Chaplain Rick knows how to make our faith-centered care relevant for all of us who work here.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 John 4:7-12
“What, exactly, do you guys do out there?” When people first heard I was working for Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, I got this question a lot. When you hear it for the hundredth time it may be a tired question, but it is still a good question. What do we do at the Ranch?
If we take the words of 1 John 4:7-12 seriously, the answer is simple: We love people. We show compassion and concern to people who have been told they are unlovable. Your work at The Ranch is to bring help and support to children and families who have nowhere else to turn.”
No matter how you support Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, you share your love with children who need it desperately. Your kindness fulfills John’s words in 1 John. As you share your prayers and time and treasure for the sake of our at-risk children, you demonstrate the love of Christ. You care for someone else. Thank you for all you do for The Ranch. You are a worker of God’s love, and that shows Christ to our kids.
God bless you. Please keep the children and staff of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in your prayers.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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