Confession time.

Confession time.

Reading the headlines.

Hearing the stories of people without food.

Seeing the photos of war-torn countries.

Seeing the faces in the photographs of displaced individuals. 

Knowing that right now, young girls and boys are being forced into sex trafficking.
Looking at my products, clothing and household items and wondering where it is sourced?

Whose hands have made these things and worked hard to source the material?

People. 

Of equal value to you and I. 

People
 Whose stories may never be told.

Their daily lives are filled with pain, uncertainty, fear, and despair.

Children who know, not the love and safety of a parent or guardian but the unprotection of adults.
Used and abused as their innocence is stolen in the most disturbing inhuman ways.

Once oblivious and ignorant.
Until made known

Overwhelmed
Feeling helpless.
 Inadequate to make a difference in such vast needs.
A drop in the bucket it seems.

I feel things deeply.
And I confess It can paralyze me into a state of helplessness.
Feeling utterly overwhelmed.
Unsure of where to even start.
Tempted to keep my head in the sand, trying to live as I always did.

But knowledge is power.
And privilege is responsibility. 

Yet who am I?
My skills are limited.
My resources little.
I am of no great importance or significance.
I have no title or influence with those who make decisions that matter.

Wait.
Take one breath
Take one step
Take one day at a time.

Because I can't save the world.
I can't help or shelter every person who is in need.
I can't rescue every child trafficked,
who are praying to be saved from the hell they are living.
My heart wants to be able to do it all.
But I can't.

Instead of looking at what I can't.
I must learn to think about what I Can.
What can I start to do now?

Using my creativity and imagination.
Regardless of what I don't have,
I look at what I do have.

For we have the power to change things.
Each of us.
Regardless of where we come from.
Regardless of what our education has been.
Regardless of what amount of resource we have.

The power comes from our choices. 
What we buy and where it comes from.
Ethical and Fair Trade.
Where we spend our money speaks of what we value.
Choosing to support and advocate for organizations
that are skilled and reputable in their work.

I want to see hope when I read the headlines.
But it begins with me.
It begins with you.

Confession time.
I can.
I can make a difference.
And so can you.
What will tomorrow look like?
Here's to the start of a new journey, a new mindset.
One step at a time,
Once choice at a time.
And I pray, through His strength, I will find the courage I need,
to not always make the convenient choices, but the important ones.

(Photo taken by me using an iPhone)