“You are loved”.
These words came
out of my mouth as I handed her a red rose. She is classified. She is categorized in a group of outcasts and treated as unworthy. Some would call her
a prostitute, but God calls her his daughter. I don’t know what it’s like to
live a life of physical imprisonment. Where my actions are dictated by a mind
that has been threatened and traumatized into a state of being. I don’t know
what it’s like to be trafficked. But I do know that this should not be
happening. I know that the gift of life is precious. I know that God created us
all equally in his image to live out of love and not lust. And I learned on
Valentine’s Day that a simple gesture can bring light to the darkness.
rose to a stranger? It doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal. Or at least to
me, I never thought of the impact a flower could have on someone. But once I stepped into the uncomfortable, my view changed.
out of my mouth as I handed her a red rose. She is classified. She is categorized in a group of outcasts and treated as unworthy. Some would call her
a prostitute, but God calls her his daughter. I don’t know what it’s like to
live a life of physical imprisonment. Where my actions are dictated by a mind
that has been threatened and traumatized into a state of being. I don’t know
what it’s like to be trafficked. But I do know that this should not be
happening. I know that the gift of life is precious. I know that God created us
all equally in his image to live out of love and not lust. And I learned on
Valentine’s Day that a simple gesture can bring light to the darkness.
Have you ever thought to hand a
rose to a stranger? It doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal. Or at least to
me, I never thought of the impact a flower could have on someone. But once I stepped into the uncomfortable, my view changed.
On Valentine’s Day, I, along with
several other people from MATTOO (http://mattoo.org/)
went to a place called Guadalhorce, Spain. Our main goal was to hand out roses to women who had been
caught in trafficking. That was it. And if there was a chance, tell them that
God loves them and he sees them in their darkest hour.
several other people from MATTOO (http://mattoo.org/)
went to a place called Guadalhorce, Spain. Our main goal was to hand out roses to women who had been
caught in trafficking. That was it. And if there was a chance, tell them that
God loves them and he sees them in their darkest hour.
For me, I was a bit shell shocked
driving around what seemed to be abandoned factory buildings…and then getting a
glimpse of a woman standing alone in the shadows. I know some of you may have
never experienced the feeling of oppression lingering in the air. Where darkness in
the atmosphere manifests into physical disgust and heartache. My heart was
pierced as I caught sight of the steady traffic flow of men picking up women to
fulfill a lustful desire that can only be temporarily satisfied. This shouldn’t
be happening I thought to myself again. It’s sickening to me to know that in
modern day, slavery still occurs. Yet a lot of the times, I find myself
ignoring the issue.
driving around what seemed to be abandoned factory buildings…and then getting a
glimpse of a woman standing alone in the shadows. I know some of you may have
never experienced the feeling of oppression lingering in the air. Where darkness in
the atmosphere manifests into physical disgust and heartache. My heart was
pierced as I caught sight of the steady traffic flow of men picking up women to
fulfill a lustful desire that can only be temporarily satisfied. This shouldn’t
be happening I thought to myself again. It’s sickening to me to know that in
modern day, slavery still occurs. Yet a lot of the times, I find myself
ignoring the issue.
So, as we gathered together, getting
ready to split up into smaller groups, our leader, Steph read this passage
from Hosea 2:14-15:
ready to split up into smaller groups, our leader, Steph read this passage
from Hosea 2:14-15:
“And now, here’s
what I’m going to do:
what I’m going to do:
I’m going to start all
over again.
over again.
I’m taking her back
out into the wilderness
out into the wilderness
where we had our first
date, and I’ll court her.
date, and I’ll court her.
I’ll give her bouquets
of roses.
of roses.
I’ll turn Heartbreak
Valley into Acres of Hope.
Valley into Acres of Hope.
She’ll respond like
she did as a young girl,
she did as a young girl,
those
days when she was fresh out of Egypt.”
days when she was fresh out of Egypt.”
This is a promise of God: a true act of love. He turns Heartbreak
Valley into Acres of Hope.
I was
able to see what it really looks like to show love on Valentine’s Day. I saw
firsthand a love stronger than any other: a love that conquers the heartbreak
and shame of prostitution. I saw eyes fill with hope as soon as they discovered
our intent of speaking with them. We didn’t want to use them. We had no
preconceived notions. We had no conditions on our love for them. We were just
messengers of hope. It was one of the times in my life where I was reminded
that I am part of something bigger in this world. I was part of telling these
women about a love that can break years of condemnation and self-pity. Where
the unworthy become precious commodities. Where shame and past hurts are washed
clean.
able to see what it really looks like to show love on Valentine’s Day. I saw
firsthand a love stronger than any other: a love that conquers the heartbreak
and shame of prostitution. I saw eyes fill with hope as soon as they discovered
our intent of speaking with them. We didn’t want to use them. We had no
preconceived notions. We had no conditions on our love for them. We were just
messengers of hope. It was one of the times in my life where I was reminded
that I am part of something bigger in this world. I was part of telling these
women about a love that can break years of condemnation and self-pity. Where
the unworthy become precious commodities. Where shame and past hurts are washed
clean.
The battle is that in order to combat human trafficking, humanity, as a whole has to untangle a web of exploitation. Mindsets and beliefs have to change in the hearts of many. But even the simplest acts can plant seeds of change. I know this battle may seem lost to some, but every rose I gave was not futile. For me, I saw the rose as a fruit. It was planted in the hearts of women, where things were devastated long ago. And fruit borne from dust has already overcome death.
I’m not saying I saw instant transformation. I don’t think it happens
like that. But I did see grateful hearts as they received the roses. I saw
change happen in women’s eyes. We were able to give them something beautiful.
So whatever that looks like in your life, I pray you “hand a rose” to someone
today. Bring beauty to a dark place. Make yourself aware and then act on it.
Bring change. Whether it is a simple gesture of buying a stranger coffee or opening a
door for someone. Those little things bring beauty and order to this chaotic
world.
like that. But I did see grateful hearts as they received the roses. I saw
change happen in women’s eyes. We were able to give them something beautiful.
So whatever that looks like in your life, I pray you “hand a rose” to someone
today. Bring beauty to a dark place. Make yourself aware and then act on it.
Bring change. Whether it is a simple gesture of buying a stranger coffee or opening a
door for someone. Those little things bring beauty and order to this chaotic
world.
