“Thank you,” said the store clerk at my favorite thrift store. Her gracious response was expected. However, when she added, “Would you like to round up your purchase to the next dollar—all our proceeds help provide housing for survivors of human trafficking?” I felt embarrassed.
The long shift dress I bought to use as a beach cover-up was on sale for 99¢! I realize the cheerful volunteer recited this request after every sale, but seriously, was she kidding? She was asking if I would add one more penny for their worldwide mission. A penny!
Wait a minute, Diane, I thought. What’s so ludicrous about adding a measly penny? You did it all the time. Before you started following the 12 Step program, you often saw yourself as small change. Remember when you got to Step 4, Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, how long your negative inventory list was compared to the two items of positive things you discovered about yourself?
My involvement in Al-Anon revealed I was not the only person devaluing my credible worth. With the support of others in “the rooms’ and Step 6, Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character many of us began to uncover our true treasure.
Whether you are working a self-help program or not, my prayer is that you refuse to downplay your value and stop settling for less than your God-given worth.
No more penny-ante stakes for us. It’s time we round up to the self-dignity our Higher Power had in mind when He created us in His image. Rounding up–going up—thinking upward as to the treasure we truly are.
Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn’t forget a one of them. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows (Luke 12:6-7 CEV).
The issue of Human trafficking is a global matter, and our response should be as wide-reaching as the need. Worthwhile Wear has sought to address this extensive area of need, by adapting a multi-prong approach to meet the varied needs. Worthwhile Wear provides vocational training and employment in its overseas programs (primarily in India; cities of Mumbai & Pune), where economics is one of the driving factors of human trafficking. In the US, Worthwhile Wear’s programs address the need of long-term restorative services, housing and employment for US survivors of human trafficking through its housing & aftercare program, The Well. https://worthwhilewear.org/pages/about-us#go
