Mother's Day Tribute

I'm having difficulty coming to grips with my Mother's Day present this year. Not because it's ugly, or because I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. It isn't one of those gifts that only a mother could love. In fact, it is a beautifully delicate citrine and silver necklace and matching earrings.

What I'm having trouble with it that it was made by a 17 year old girl who was rescued from the sex trafficking industry in Thailand.
On May 1st, our church held a ladies' tea for all of the churches in our community. There were women there from many different faiths who came together for one purpose: to support The Well.
The Well is a branch of ServantWorks (which has interesting connections to Cup of Cold Water, started by our across-the-road neighbors, btw) that works in Thailand to free women from the slavery of prostitution. The husband and wife team in Bangkok purchases half an hour of a young lady's time and presents the opportunity of escape to her.  Anyone who wants out is accepted into The Well. Currently there are three homes where the women can come to live with their children. They are involved in Bible studies and other recovery programs, and are taught a trade to support themselves. Their jewelry, clothing, and paper goods that they make are exceptional in quality and very reasonable in price.

The jewelry is called Narimon, a Thai word which suggests purity. Like the woman at the well in Scripture, these young ladies leave a devastating life of sin and oppression and come to Christ, who makes them pure in spite of their past.

Each piece of jewelry comes with a card that has the name and age of it's creator on it. I love the connection that gives. It is an opportunity to pray for that individual by name. But it is also very emotional as well. To think that the necklace that I am wearing today was made by a 17 year old girl who has already know such horrors in her life is a crushing thought. You know that wasn't the life that her mother imagined for her.
Each night, we tuck our children safely in, most of the time without a second thought that their lives could be so much different.
So amid all the flowers, candles, and bath salts that will change hands today, I can think of no better gift than something that helps some other mother's child live the life of safety that I take for granted for my girls.

If you are interested, you may contact ServantWorks and arrange to have one of the Narimon jewelry parties in your home or church.