WHAT PEOPLE SAY

"You are NOT my mother, nor will you ever be my father!" I screamed as the McGriffs walked into the group home in 2011, prepared to take on the role of new family teachers at Boytown. As an estranged, hurt, and neglected youth, I felt that this couple would disrupt the fragile, illusory bonds I had with my biological parents. However, I was mistaken. I failed to recognize the blessing that God had given me through this transitional process.

Reflecting on that moment nearly 15 years ago, I am now aghast at some of the harsh remarks I directed at the McGriffs. They have gracefully assumed the role of mother and father in my life. The couple has become a paragon of what I could have hoped for in parents. From being present at all my monumental moments to helping me move across the country, they have always been there, never shying away from holding me accountable while fostering growth.

I am beyond elated to share the McGriffs with others, allowing them to experience the same love and devotion I have been fortunate enough to receive since adolescence. With a grateful heart and a spirit full of grace, I am proud to call them my mother and father, and I hope that anyone blessed to be in their presence will feel the same.