Little Helping Hands

Ever since the beginning of the year, I have been really focused on the the issue of human trafficking.  Specifically CSEC, or the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.  This is a huge issue in the Atlanta area.  If you thought slavery was abolished back in the days of Abraham Lincoln, then you are wrong.  Slavery still exists today, and it exists in the United States.  This isn't a problem for inner city Atlanta either.  In fact, 42% of the sex trafficking crimes take place north of Atlanta.  I have become super passionate about this topic, and look for any and all opportunities to be involved.  For many children, hunger is a entry point to being trafficked.  Many children do have full pantries like we do.  They don't have homes to go home to.  There are a ton of kids in our area that live in motels, and move around from day to do.  With Spring Break coming up, a local organization called Street Grace, wanted to do something to help.  They created Blessing Bags.  These bags were filled with food, and will be distributed to the local homeless youth.  This is being done in hopes of preventing these vulnerable children from being lured into the dangerous world of human trafficking. 

This morning, we went as a family to help stuff the Blessing Bags (BBs).  There was a nursery, so Jacob and Liam stayed there for most of the morning, but I did have Jacob come for a while.  They handed out bags at the start of the assembly route, and Jacob took his own.  He walked around filling the bag.  Previous to going, I did my best to explain, that there are some children that do not have food to eat every day.  We were going to serve those children.  Although he didn't truly understand, he did get that he was helping people.  Before dropping our bags off, we moved aside to pray for the children that would receive the bags we filled.  I told Jacob, "see, you were able to help another little boy or girl today."  He said, "yeah, like you helped me fill up my bag."  He understands the concept of helping.  This statement just affirmed that.  He helped me pray for those children, then we passed our bags along.

Although this was a very small effort on our parts today, I am really praying these small efforts will make some difference to these children.  I am also hoping to build a love of service in my children.  The idea of serving as a family is so important to me.  I really do believe we have a responsibility to those around us, and I just pray my children grow up with that same belief.  Today was a good day. Seeing my oldest, though only three, help other people was sweet.