Saying “Yes” Goes a Long Way
This wasn’t exactly the low-key outing Samarah had in mind when she picked-up Casey, but for Samarah, being a Royal Family KIDS Mentoring Club mentor means being God’s “yes” girl. So when camper Casey got into the car and insisted on going to Sky Zone—a trampoline park that’s usually packed with sweaty, stinky, and highly competitive kids, Samarah said “yes.” When they got to Sky Zone and found out they were having a glow-in-the-dark event which costs three times more than normal and lasts three times longer, Samarah said “yes” to that as well.
“Hey, we got matching glow-in-the-dark shirts and socks, so maybe it was worth it,” Samarah reasoned. Besides, she knew this day wasn’t about her, it was about giving Casey the space to have fun and be a kid. “I was all about saying yes to that,” she says. As soon as they started jumping on the trampolines and Samarah saw the smile on Casey’s face, she couldn’t stop from saying “yes” over and over again. Samarah said “yes” to dodgeball, putting stinky boys in their place on the balance beam, slam-dunk competitions, and jumping until they got kicked out. There was even an opportunity to say “yes” to speaking truth and life into Casey and another teen they met while waiting in line. When they got back in the car, Samarah decided to take it to the next level and make this a day they would never forget. Car windows came down and music was blasting, as Casey and Samarah sang and danced in their seats with all the energy they had left from the day.
“I saw Casey be Casey with no restraints,” Samarah remembers. “Every sacrifice I had made that day was worth it.” And when Casey asked her to take the long way home, Samarah did not hesitate.
“I was made to love and empower Casey, to make her laugh and help her see her potential,” Samarah says. “Being God’s ‘yes’ girl was a gift from God.”
*Name changed to protect the child’s identity
