“I matter, but so do you.”
“I want to share a story but I need to listen to my friend’s story too. “
“I should tell ________that they were missed in group last week.”
“It’s been a really hard week but I am so grateful to have group to come to.”
These are just a few phrases and ideas that every Daystar counselor hoped and prayed they would start to hear in one of our 24 Daystar Groups. American author and poet Wendell Berry writes “What is good for the world is good for us.” Amen! Boys and girls learning to listen, share, empathize, give, and receive not just for their sake but for something bigger than themselves. That was, is, and will continue to be the heartbeat of a Daystar Group.
As another year and semester of groups comes to a close, we are grateful so many girls and boys have had a safe place to meet each week. We’re thankful for boys who’ve learned the value of collaborating vs. competing. We’re thankful for girls who have experienced sharing hard stories about loss and struggle, only to find a warm and caring friend who reminds them they are not alone. 24 Daystar Groups met weekly to share updates, listen to stories, learn valuable social skills, and most importantly, to be reminded that they matter.
You are receiving this letter because your child was a part of a Daystar Group this year. We hope group was a place where he/she experienced rhythms of safety, belonging, encouragement, and challenges. One of our core beliefs at Daystar is “one life touching another.” Our staff, volunteers, and counselors had the opportunity of seeing this core belief weekly at one of our 24 groups. Thank you for entrusting your child to our care. It truly is a privilege!
This letter went out to every group family just a few weeks ago, announcing the end of groups and the beginning of summer at Daystar. We wanted you to hear Sherman Bucher, our Director of Groups and Day Camps’ words as to what group really does mean to the kids and families and involved. Your support makes a difference…day after day, and counseling hour after counseling hour in this little yellow house called Daystar.
We are profoundly grateful.
The Daystar Staff
