SPEAK UP
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy”
I wear a necklace with this verse around my neck almost every day. My “every day” consists largely of me changing diapers (about 20 a day), refereeing arguments (about 20x10), and reading picture books (let’s just go with 20 again). I whole-heartedly believe these monotonous, seemingly meaningless days of mine are deeply, divinely important. But just in case I get lulled into thinking they are all important, the only important, I wear this necklace and remember this verse. As much as my world revolves around the six other humans in my home, the actual world is full of “those” people. Those ones “who cannot speak for themselves...the destitute..the poor...the needy.” So in whatever small ways I can, I strive to follow God's command and speak up for them.
Speak Up Necklace
My speaking up right now is going to be very simple. If your heart breaks for these voiceless, destitute people or if it doesn’t but you know it should, then I want to encourage you to learn about Eden Ministry. Eden Ministry is an organization that works to bring freedom and healing to women enslaved in the red-light districts of Asia. The work Eden does is so comprehensive - from prevention to rescue to job training - that a few sentences won’t do it justice. Please take the time to read about Eden Ministry yourself and become compelled by all they do. You can also grab some tissues and watch the short video below.
Trafficking is a huge topic these days. There are few issues that devastate and anger us - especially us women, us mothers - like sex trafficking. But I believe there are few issues that seem as inaccessible to us being able to affect change within as trafficking either. When I hear the stories of girls and women trapped in sex slavery, I shudder and weep and then move on with my little life. Because what else can a middle-class mom from New Jersey do?
I’m grateful there’s something I can do. I’m grateful for organizations like Eden Ministry that allow someone like me who can’t do much to partner with what they are doing. Besides the speaking, praying, and the like (not to be minimized, of course), I can “do” financial support.
And, you guys, financial support of a company like Eden Ministry is just the easiest. With Eden, financial support = buying beautiful jewelry, and I mean, BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY. I wear a different piece of Eden jewelry almost every day and each one. And if you are a woman who’s received a gift from me in the past year, there is a 100% chance it was a product from Eden. Each piece of jewelry is beautiful. But more importantly, each piece is created with a purpose, created to tell a story, created to support the very women whose hands crafted it.
You, too, can support and speak up yourself by purchasing from, and in purchasing, advocating for Eden Ministry.
