Help, Hope, & Healing: There is a sign hanging in one of our pregnancy centers which reads, “To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world.”

I don’t know the person who hung that sign or the meaning it had for them… it’s profound. “Thank you very much Dr. Seuss.” (one of a couple credited for the quote). The sign hangs in the lone restroom at the center, the lone restroom where girls, teens, young women and older women --- women from all walks of life come to seek an answer.

Am I Pregnant?

These women come; some happily, some ashamed, some scared… some detached… some simply going through the process of confirmation, understanding and seeking the means to an end.

The process at Hands of Hope looks like this; safety, grace, confirmation, truth, a pregnancy test with results – negative/positive, conversations, prayers, a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on… a free ultrasound to confirm viability… caring nurses, staff, volunteers and prayer warriors holding each unique circumstance with compassion.

All of those things came to mind the first time I saw that sign and I wondered: does this sign have an impact on the mom who may not choose life? Does this make her think of the duties and responsibilities already weighing her down? Does this sign make the woman desiring children aware of her womb, aware of the potential life growing inside of her? Does this make the worker, counselor, or volunteer understand the gravity of the job and task at hand?

Do we really understand that we may be the world to one person?

To the donors involved in the mission at Hands of Hope… seeing this sign, are you aware that your generous donation does mean the world to someone… someone hurting, someone scared, someone alone… someone who needs help, confirmation, options, and recovery?

To the world we are one person… To one person we are the world…

Each one of us… Giver, Volunteer, Scheduler, Counselor, Pastor, Boyfriend, Husband, Brother, Mother, Sister, Friend… each one of us… we are the world to one person. Let us each meet one person where we can – with help, hope and healing.

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ~ John 13:34-35