Shout Their Worth

I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. -Malala Yousafzair

Advocacy is something I really had no experience with prior to moving to China. I think I always liked the idea of 'going to battle' for a fellow human being and, like many others, I love to help. The idea is vastly different than the reality of actually 'standing up for someone' or 'shouting their worth'. When you decide to join the fight, you are choosing to sacrifice your comfort zone, leave behind what you 'thought you knew', and risk it all for someone else. Something I learned while 'shouting the worth' of the babies in China, is that it isn't as hard to see the worth of someone you love dearly–the hard part, is first seeing your own. Which I discovered is the key component to truly seeing theirs.

We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.- J.K. Rowling

If I can look past everything to see their beauty, their importance, their worth, why couldn't I as easily see my own? I don't think this is uncommon. I know many people would agree that it is easier to praise, compliment, and say someone else is worthy of love than themselves. We as humans are incredibly hard on ourselves. This comes out in ugly ways like bitterness, defensiveness, anger, and even cruelty. What if we could see ourselves the way we see a loved one? "‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” –this is assuming we already love ourselves, yeah? That's a pretty small and beautiful way of saying, "hey, I'm making it super clear here that you're wonderful and perfect and you should see yourself as an amazing human. So do that, and then do it for others as well...kthanksbye"

(Or something like that).

Each day as I fell more and more in love with these humans, I began to see more of my flaws. What gave me the right to 'shout their worth?' I was given the opportunity to share their stories through written word and photographs, but I constantly wondered, 'who was I to speak on their behalf?' Not only had I never been in their shoes, I had never been anywhere even near the vicinity of them. I felt ashamed of my privilege, my ignorance, and my place in the world vs theirs. I felt unworthy of the task, even though I so desperately wanted to be a part of it. I found myself feeling 'stuck' in this space of wanting to help but not knowing how.

"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love" -Ephesians 4:2

My job was much simpler than I was trying to make it. No, I will never know what it’s like to be in their shoes. No, I can’t speak for them as I do not know the thoughts that are in their heads, but I can speak up for them in advocacy for their rights, their worth, and their importance on this earth. What I can do, is SEE them. I can get to KNOW them. I can be there for them, hold their hands, make them smile, cry with them, hurt for them, and carefully and thoughtfully put our experiences together into words. I could open my heart and lovelovelove on them. Because letting the world know they exist, and they are loved, is enough. Being a person to truly SEE them for who they are, and ask for nothing in return, is the most important role I have. Isn’t that true for all of us? Isn’t that what Jesus’ entire message is all about? Unconditional love, full of grace, full of mercy, loyalty and justice for all. To be seen, to be heard, to be known. He asks for nothing but our hearts.

As time went on, I slowly began to understand what needed to happen in my own heart: we were desperate to teach the nannies and locals to see the worth of the children they cared for. In doing so, we knew that the key to their heart and their understanding was to see their own worth first. If they did not truly see themselves as worthy of love, how could they feel that for another? Like I mentioned before, if it's assumed that we love ourselves, it must be necessary to first do so in order to love our neighbor well. This pointed to the clear answer to my problem: I Need To See My Own Worth Before I Can Shout Theirs. In order for the nannies to feel deserving of unconditional love, they had to believe they were worthy of it. In order for them to give unconditional love, they had to believe others were worthy of it. How could I ask that of them, without believing the same for myself? Not only believing it, but living it out. Practicing by giving myself grace, patience, encouragement, and forgiveness. (<- that one's doozy, which I'll get to in a later post). This is something I’m continually working on. Did I ever truly see my worth? Do I now?  I truly believe He sees each of those babies as the most precious beings on earth that He created so beautifully and wonderfully. If I believe that for them, I can believe it for me. There are no exceptions in His book.

So, we show up to battle. We come adorning armor linked with fierce proclamation of their beauty and worth.

With my experience in China, shouting worth doesn't necessarily mean to literally 'shout'.

(although, sometimes it does).

It sometimes sounds like a simple, "yes, they can". It sounds like an encouraging whisper in a little ear saying, "I believe in you". It's felt in a squeeze of a hand saying, "try one more time". It sounds like heavy fingered tapping on a keyboard pleading for a chance. It sounds like a click of a camera capturing their unique joy. It sounds like wet paint hitting paper to keep for their very own. It sounds like a room full of cheers and applause as they take their first steps. It sounds like collective tears of joy as a home is found, and tears of sorrow when goodbye's come too soon. It sounds like a Sharpie printing their name on a wall to never be forgotten. It's sounds of praise,

of joy, and of sorrow–in togetherness and apart. Standing on the front lines fighting and shouting for a beautiful soul worthy of all the love we can muster. We all have a voice to give to the voiceless. That voice can be vocalized loud and bold, or it can soft and tender. Your voice may be a gentle touch or swimming upstream against oppressors. It may be standing strong and tall in adversary or sitting on the ground holding a head up. Gentle and bold warriors, don't stay silent in fear of saying the wrong thing. "Shout" we must. Your voice is uniquely yours, as is mine. Our mission is to simply use it.

Advocating to me means; fighting for, believing in, hoping, praying, encouraging, holding hands, lifting heads, remembering and never ever giving up.

• This has brought on a lot of self-reflection and made me take a long look in the mirror and into my heart. It did not feel right to write a post about advocacy and worth without commenting on what is happening in the world: if I will go to the ends of the earth fighting for the babies, shouting their worth and speaking preciousness, beauty, and perfection over them, then how dare I not do it for any and every person who is in need of a comrade? A fellow soldier, an ally, a listening ear, a warrior who’s not afraid to face their enemies? I cannot pick and choose who deserves love. Who's worthy of it. I can’t speak of the worth of children in China and ignore the hurting and oppressed that I’m face to face with. I cannot be praised for my efforts across the ocean when I turn a blind eye to my neighbor. I will commit to trying my absolute best, to listen with humility, and constantly strive towards growth.

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause,” (Isaiah 1:17). “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

---

Daughter

by: Sleeping At Last

If only you knew The sunlight shines a little brighter The weight of the world's a little lighter The stars lean in a little closer All because of you

I want to see You lift your chin a little higher Open your eyes a little wider Speak your mind a little louder 'Cause you are royalty

This is your kingdom This is your crown This is your story This is your moment Don't look down

You're ready, born ready And all you gotta do Is put one foot in front of you Our ceiling is your floor And all you gotta do Is put one foot in front of you If only you knew

If only you knew The forests grew a little greener The roots reach in little deeper The birds all sing a little sweeter All to welcome you

I want to see Your happily ever after That you know in your heart that you matter That you are royalty

This is your kingdom This is your crown This is your story This is your moment Don't look down