Last Friday, July 30, 2021 was World Day against Trafficking Persons. Because it the the week before school begins, I did not get this blog posted as I had wished. Better late than never!
If we are honest with ourselves, there are just some things that we wish we didn't know. Things like the total amount of money that will be paid to purchase a car... or a home. Or the interesting ingredients that are found in your favorite hot dogs. What about the astonishing fact that McDonald's chicken nuggets come in four NAMED shapes? (yikes, and how many of those did I feed to my boys when they were young?) All of these are facts that we wish we didn't know.The list of "things-we wish-we didn't-know" grows more serious when the topic of sex trafficking is examined. "The Louisiana Attorney General's office reported a 200% increase in online sexual predator cases since the beginning of the pandemic" according to a press release on September 21, 2020. Shamefully, we have swept this problem under the rug.
We can no longer deny that our community, Shreveport-Bossier City, is a hub for child sex trafficking. Yes, you heard me correctly- CHILD sex trafficking. A 2016 Shreveport Times article reported that "102 of 172 sex trafficking victims in Louisiana in 2015 were children." It further states that "eighteen of those victims were under the age of twelve." (data from Department of Children and Family Services) We should not be surprised by this news. Shreveport-Bossier City is home to two interstate highways: I20 running east-west and I49 offering north-south transportation routes. These routes are quick pathways to larger cities.
Victims are sometimes sold by family members. Others are runaways that become trapped when a person makes them feel loved or understood. Some are kidnapping victims. They do not realize that they been preyed upon by vicious predators until it is too late. Regardless of the reason, it is modern day slavery and must be ended!
Denying the issue is no longer an acceptable response. As adults and protectors of our most valuable treasures, our children, we must be fully aware of the human/child trafficking crisis. Observe behaviors. Pay attention to situations that seem slightly off. Maintain constant conversations with your children, teens, and young adults. Make it your job to know who your children or teens are spending their time with. Know where they are. Keep the lines of communication open so they will talk to you about the people that they come in contact with. Teach them to exercise healthy boundaries. Tell them no. If you feel uncomfortable about a situation, it is your job as their guardian to "guard" them from harmful situations. Parenting is a difficult, 24-hour, 365-day a year job. Don't get lazy! And pray. Pray daily for God's protection over your child's life and the lives of their friends.
Treasures are items that are highly valued and extremely prized. When we cherish something or someone, we keep careful watch over it. It is precious and irreplaceable. Our children are treasures from the Lord. We must be on guard to protect the lives of our cherished children. Matthew 18:6 says, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Pray for the children and teens that are not raised in loving families. Be alert. And always protect the children!
Several years ago, Peyton made me a special gift for Mother's Day with the help of Chad Glover. It was simply a leather bracelet with the word "PURCHASED" embossed on it. I wear it proudly each day to remind myself of two things. First, that I was purchased- I was bought with the most precious blood of a sinless Savior. It reminds me of whose I am! Second, I wear it to remember to pray for our local "Purchased Ministry"and people in our area and those around the world that are part of the sex trafficking industry. We can no longer ignore this growing problem. Stand for those that cannot yet fight for themselves. It matters!
#savethechildren
