When I Grow up...

I wonder what she's thinking?

I heard someone say once, that no child is ever born with a burning desire to be poor, or homeless, or addicted, or alone.

Instead, like little sponges, they are open to any possibility.

I wonder what she is dreaming of? Touching a white wall, blank with opportunity,what might be next for this little adult-in-the-making?

Maybe as she clutches her dolly she one day wants to be a mum. Maybe a doctor, an Olympic athlete, maybe a mountain climber or jet pilot. Maybe, just like her own mum wishes for her, she just wants to be happy.

She is someone's daughter.

Beautiful.

Full of potential.

Alive.

Life, as we know it, with its pressures, strains and decisions hasn't touched her yet.

She hasn't had to make the difficult choices as a teenager, or experience stress as a student, or mourn the loss of a loved one who has passed, or deal with the searing pain of abuse.

She hasn't caved to peer pressure and drunk the cheap cider.
She hasn't met a bloke whose words and charm are like addictive nectar.
She hasn't taken the drugs to numb the loneliness.
She hasn't rattled through the night as her body gets rid of the poison it now craves.
She hasn't broken promises she swore to her family she could keep.
She hasn't thought the things most of us will never understand.
She hasn't taken something at Christmas that will end her pain once and for all.

She isn't the reason our women's recovery workers began the New Year heartbroken.

You see, when we arrived back at work today we were greeted by the tragic news that a young woman known to our Women's Recovery team had died over the festive period. The details are yet unknown, but it would seem that the life-controlling struggles she has battled with for years have finally beaten her.

A young woman who had once stood, just like the little girl at the top of this page, clutching her doll and believing for happiness, has now gone.

Tears aside, this is why we exist.

We believe that all women, families and young people should be free to live healthy, whole and safe lives, free from addiction, poverty and abuse.

This tragedy does not mean what we do isn't working. It just means we need to work all the harder.

I saw this quote just this morning, after we had heard the sad news. It reminded me of the amazing team of staff and volunteers who serve tirelessly at A Way Out.

But particularly for the Women's Recovery workers who now need to pick themselves up and keep reaching out and rescuing other girls who need their help... this is for them. 

I think Mother Teresa expresses it best when she said: "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts there can be no more hurt, only more love."

The team here will keep loving. They will keep working long hours, they will keep advocating for women who need a voice, they will keep empowering volunteers to serve and make a difference in their communities, they will keep raising funds, keep believing in families labelled as troubled, they will keep journeying with young people, and keep telling broken, addicted, exploited and hurt women that there is hope.


And you can help us. If you want to join the A Way Out family by becoming a regular financial giver (just £10 a month can help us walk a girl off the streets and into recovery), a volunteer or if you would like to run a fundraising event for us, please email lindsay.bruce@awayout.co.uk.

We are believing that 2013 will be an amazing year for us - and for you. Be healthy, be blessed, and we'll see you soon,

with love from A Way Out.