Our Friend, Ricky

Hello Friends,
I need to introduce you to Todd and my friend, Ricky. Have I told you about him yet?

Well, Todd and I are blessed to know and have Ricky in our lives. We feel privileged to be apart of his life.

For me, knowing Ricky, is a renewed sense of experiencing God's mercy, grace, and endurance. You see, our friend Ricky is a brilliant, courteous, friendly and God-fearing 19-year-old. He has seen and experienced things in life that I have not and I am thankful God guides his steps.

Todd had the opportunity to originally met Ricky through Urban Youth Impact several years ago. Urban Youth gave Ricky his first birthday cake on his 18th birthday. Ricky has faced being homeless; watch his mother struggle with and recover from the addiction of crack; and see siblings become incarcerated. The sting of drug or alcohol addiction has left their marks on his family heritage.

And to know Ricky today, you see Christ's love and grace. You know God's mercy and you feel Christ's message of hope; hope of salvation and abundance of life.

Ricky is completing school to receive his high school diploma. He then plans to continue school and training to become a firefighter and save lives. He feels God's blessing on his life by walking in God's grace. Ricky is thankful to be alive, to carry his family name and be the first to receive a high school diploma in his immediate family.

Todd and I are so proud of him and his commitment to the Lord. We are excited to see how God will continue to mold and create him to be an even stronger man of God. We are thankful for the opportunities to spend time together.

Ricky has impacted my life with a new sense of humility. I am humbled by how God has blessed me. I have been to restuarants to eat out that Ricky has never been to before. Todd and I are thankful to have taken Ricky to Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel and other restuarants in which he has never eaten . I am humble to have had birthday cakes each year of my life. I am humble to have had family that were in a position to care for me that drugs and alcohol did not become a barrier in my childhood. I am humble by having a home and room of my own all of my life. I am humble... and thankful. I am blessed in my life for many reasons. And I am blessed to have Ricky as a friend.