HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY SON


Well, it is that time of year again when parent's and families head across the State or maybe even the country to see their child graduate from college. By this time parents have expended their life savings, retirements, and basically have signed more financial paper then they did to buy their home.....but it was worth it!

There is nothing like gazing at the college graduation program watching as each name counts down to that special one, your child's name. If your last name begins with a "Z" you really have to be patient. Even waiting to hear "Stokes" was more then I could handle, but it finally was announced. You can imagine my joy when I heard "Gregory Thomas Stokes Jr.".

But, like many kids, the path to college was not easy for my son. Just six years ago I really thought by this time I would be on the regular schedule at the Enfield Correctional Facilities. I truly was convinced that, unless something happen to shake him up, Greg would be a burden for our family for many years....but God had a different plan.


To explain this let me go back to about six years ago on a stairwell at Fermi High School. Greg was looking for his exit plan from school a little earlier then the school allowed. As he waited for his opportunity to leave school, he checked his pockets just to make sure he had his drug's and proper items needed to take such drugs (Yes, I could write for CSI).

But just as he had his illegal items in hand, up the stairs came a sight he did not want to see. It was a teacher. Greg stood in shock as the teacher asked him to empty his pockets and then escorted him to the office where the police were called to take him away.

Within the hour I was called to come to the Enfield Police Station. There I heard my son's name called, it lacked the joy I felt at his graduation this past Saturday, but out he came.

A few weeks later we met before the expulsion Board of the School System. I can still remember the stern look from everyone there...it frightened me and gave me flashbacks to my school days. But it happened, Greg was kicked out of school and asked not to return.

Well, let's jump ahead and give a brief look at what happened after that sad day for our family. Greg had a choice to either improve or destroy his future. He had a lot of time to think about it and came to the right conclusion. He did two things. He turned to God and he turned to family, both were there ready to help.

Greg quickly quit all the habits that hurt his life and his health. He signed up to take the GED test at Enfield High and passed all the test, the first time he took them. He headed off to Word of Life Bible Institute in New York and received a two year degree there. He also spent two summers over Seas working with teens and children in needy areas. His life changed through these trips.

Then this past Saturday he graduated from Davis College in Johnson City, N. Y. with a Bachelor Degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). He has a heart for the Mission field and teaching English as a second language will be a tool he can use to help others on the foreign field.

So if you have a rough teen that seems to stress you to the limits, there is hope. God is there to do what you cannot do and help you be there as a family for them.

Just six years ago I heard Greg's name announced at the Enfield Police Station. Saturday I heard it announced on a college platform. One place removed his handcuffs, the other moved his tassel. I prefer the latter.

Greg we are proud of you! Thanks to the Enfield Schools and The Enfield Police for being firm when you needed to be. Greg is a better man because of all of us, and of course, God.

Greg and Dawn Stokes
Thank you for letting us share this with you...