One of my favorite organizations is Sevenly, a for profit business that partners with non-profits to bring about social change. Several years ago, Sevenly partnered with an organization fighting trafficking as well as another for profit business, The Giving Keys. The Giving Keys works towards social change while also empowering people. People buy keys that have words stamped into them, a word that the person feels like they need in their life. Once that person feels like they have that attribute in their life they are supposed to pass the key on to someone else who needs that attribute more.
I bought a key necklace with the word “Strength” engraved on it. At that time in my life I felt like I needed strength regarding the circumstances around me as well as strength to purse God’s call for my future. On days that were hard I would wear the necklace as a reminder of the strength I have in and through God. It served as many conversation starters and helped me grasp what it meant to have strength in my life.
For a while now I’ve no longer felt like I needed the key as a reminder of strength because strength was now part of me and my identity. I knew I wanted to pass it off but I was never sure who I should give it to.
Since being at the café/drop-in-center, I’ve connected with J. She is a bright young woman who has so much potential in front of her but is too afraid to take the next step. As our friendship grew and I learned more about her I realized that strength to do what was best for her life was something she needed. So one day when we were together I told her about my story of needing strength and that the purpose of the key was to remind me to have strength in the difficult situations. Then I told her that I wanted to give her the key, and that I wanted it to be a reminder for her to have strength when it comes to difficult decisions in her life. She was touched and accepted the key and since then every time I’ve seen her she’s been wearing the key. Although I don’t think the attribute is something she’s grasped yet, I do think it’s been an encouragement to her and has opened new doors in our friendship. One day I hope to see strength to do what’s best for her be part of her identity and I hope to see her have the strength to take the steps she needs to get off the streets.