Once Grace calmed down, Daniel called her parents, who met them at the hospital. He then returned to Columbia Park and was surprised to find that Sly’s car was still there. Grace may not have been raped, but she had been drugged and assaulted. He called 911 again. The police came quickly. All of the boys from the 15th Street gang were found and arrested.
Daniel returned to the hospital to check on Grace. The nurse at the front desk directed him to the room where she was being treated. He found the room, but didn’t go in. Through a window Daniel saw Grace’s adoptive parents and her seven siblings caring for her. He thought the love of her family was what she needed to heal. With that insight, Daniel knew exactly what needed to be done. Grace needed the Circle of Love.
Daniel quickly set up a meeting with Grace’s parents and told them about his experiences with the Circle of Love aboard the Awakening Grace. He had witnessed extraordinary changes in the worst juvenile delinquents; often a complete transformation of the boy’s soul would occur. He explained that he believed Grace was feeling like an outcast and that she needed her family’s love and forgiveness more than ever. His suggestion was received enthusiastically, and that evening Grace found herself sitting in the center of her loving and caring family.
Although he would not speak, the teacher was asked to observe and guide the family through the Circle of Love ceremony. He instructed them to take turns speaking to Grace about her strengths and attributes, any acts of kindness they could recall, the wonderful aspects of her personality and any good deeds in which she had been involved.36 No one was allowed to utter a negative comment or speak badly about Grace’s past behavior. They were specifically told not to mention her association with gangs or her recent trouble.
Grace’s oldest brother Michael, who had returned home from college just for the intervention, spoke first. “Grace, I’ve always admired your outgoing nature and fearlessness when it comes to performing in front of others. I really enjoyed the little dance routines you used to organize with our sisters at holiday times. That one Christmas when you performed a scene from the Nutcracker was incredible.”
Cindy, who was seventeen, spoke next. “One time when you were really little, you got a box of delicious Belgium chocolates. You went around passing them out to everybody saying, ‘These are the yummiest candy. Try one.’ You’ve always been the most generous person I know. I’ll never forget the year you saw something on TV about an orphanage and then gave them all of your birthday presents. That’s a very special quality and I’m proud to call you my sister.”
Bobby approached Grace and said, “About three years ago Jack and I were practicing our wrestling moves before a match and Jack broke Momma’s flower vase. You told Momma that you did it because you knew we weren’t allowed to wrestle in the living room and if Momma found out she wouldn’t have allowed Jack to go to his match. Your sense of loyalty and willingness to stick up for our family is something I respect.”
“I totally forgot about that!” Jack exclaimed. “That’s the day I knew that you really were my sister, even if we didn’t have the same birth parents. You’re such an incredibly loyal person. I’ll never forget that time the Rick Lucero put gum in Sally’s hair and you punched him in the stomach. He started crying in front of all his friends. It was hilarious!”
When it was Sally’s turn she spoke of a different memory. “Do you remember when we used to take dancing classes after school? I always thought you were the best dancer in the class. Then we used to watch the movie Dirty Dancing and practice all their moves. That was so much fun. I wish we could start doing stuff like that again. I really like spending time with you.”
Dare To Be Successful Page 3