It breaks my heart to see missing children posts on social media. I hate to hear of young girls (and boys) who end up missing because they are victims of human trafficking. I am writing this post from the heart. I have personally worked with youth who have been victims of this horrific crime. I have worked with those who have fought to get out and have survived it as well as those who have yet to really escape. One thing that has stood out is the fact that there are a lot of youth who fall victim to human trafficking because they are coaxed into it by those who simply pay attention to them and speak kind words. I've heard from a young lady, "he was the only person who had ever called me pretty"; I've also heard things like "he was the only one that listened to me, and told me that I was special". It breaks my heart that the first time a young person hears kind words is from someone who means them harm. We have to do a better job as parents, godparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. We cannot let our children fall victim to predators simply because we are too busy to speak words of encouragement to them. We need to make it an effort to find positive and encouraging things to say to our youth. We need to use our words to empower them, to edify them, and to reinforce their value.
If words are a weapon, have you been using yours to tear down or build up? We should not let the only time our children feel special, worthy, seen, or loved be when someone is trying to manipulate them. We have failed if that happens. Our positive words should be so ever-present in our children's minds that it solidifies that they are worthy, that they are seen and known by us, that they are special to us and to the world, and that they are loved and do not have to do things that violate them to earn that love. When was the last time you went and spoke words of encouragement to your child just because? Not because of some achievement, not because they did something you said to do, but simply because they are being themselves. We have to learn to encourage our children to be secure in who they are. By celebrating them and speaking life over them when they are simply just being, we show them that they are good enough just being them. That their worth is not tied to achievements and other external items, but that their worth lies within them. We must learn to look at our children and see what gifts God has placed in them and use our words to help build those things. Does your child love freely? Does your child empathize with others? Does your child laugh freely? Is your child a natural giver? Does your child tend to fight for the underdog and defend others? Is your child creative? Does your child know how to find solutions to problems? Does your child bounce back from disappointments quickly? Does your child stand out? Often children need an adult's guidance on how to utilize, manage, and embrace their gifts. They need someone older to show them that they add value with the things God's placed in them and what they add naturally. We have to speak these words to our children, not just once but over and over again, until they accept these words as fact. I hope this post encourages someone to go into their child's room and speak words of encouragement. Leilani
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