Wyatt Spreads His Wings

April 1, 2025

Wyatt is one of the young men at Mercy Home who has been here the longest. Our young people spend varying amounts of time at our Home. For some, a school year provides enough time to get back on track. But some of our kids require longer term support. 

Wyatt grew up in a family that was financially stable. But it wasn’t stable in any other way.  

Wyatt’s stepfather was an abusive alcoholic who made sure Wyatt never had the opportunity to build much self-esteem. Wyatt, his mother, and his sister lived in constant fear of what his stepfather would do, especially when he had been drinking.  

Eventually, Wyatt’s mother had enough of the drinking and the abuse, enough of the violence, and enough of the constant tension. She took her children and left. But she had to do it in the middle of the night, leaving all the family’s possessions behind. It was the only thing Wyatt’s mother could think of to keep her children safe. 

Wyatt’s stepfather was an abusive alcoholic who made sure Wyatt never had the opportunity to build much self-esteem.

She moved Wyatt and his younger sister into a small, cramped apartment in a rundown area of the city. Though not an ideal place to raise children, it was all she could afford while supporting her children on her own.  

Wyatt’s mother worked multiple jobs to ensure she could pay the bills. But the tradeoff was that she had much less time to spend with her children. As Wyatt got older, he started spending more time out of the apartment and in the neighborhood. It didn’t take long for him to fall in with the wrong crowd. He would do anything to numb the pain and frustration of his difficult childhood. 

When Wyatt turned 15, his mother knew that he was on the wrong path and would soon end up in serious trouble. Although he was a kindhearted and responsible boy, his behavior was beginning to emulate that of the boys he spent his time with. He was skipping school regularly, and his mother even caught him stealing her hard-earned money from her purse. 

…Over time [in our Home], he realized that he had been given the opportunity to make a positive change in his life.

She was afraid Wyatt would eventually turn to drugs and alcohol like his stepfather. His mother knew that she needed to intervene before it was too late. Fortunately, she discovered Mercy Home. She knew that we could give Wyatt the guidance, support, and security he needed. And, because of Partners in Prayer like you, we have been able to do just that. 

When Wyatt first moved in, he struggled to adapt to the structure and expectations of being in program. But over time, he realized that he had been given the opportunity to make a positive change in his life. Eventually, he saw a rise in his grades, improvement in his relationship with his family, and a plan for a brighter future. 

Our entire Mercy Home family is proud of Wyatt’s turnaround. And I know that you are, too, because he couldn’t have done it without your prayers, support, and continued generosity. Thank you for helping us save lives! 

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.