The Power of Dignity, Honor, Respect, and Love

A Personal Mission to Spread Worth

I'd like to share a little about something that has become incredibly important to me: the "dignity, honor, respect, and love" cards I hand out.

The Phrase That Changes Lives

Central to what I do are the song sheets I hand out, and on every single one, you'll find this powerful phrase:

"I am an inspirational human being made in the image of God,

and I am worthy of dignity and honor and respect and love."

This isn't just a catchy line; it's a statement of inherent worth that everyone deserves to embrace.

The concept of being "made in the image of God" is foundational to this belief. As it says in the Hebrew Bible, Genesis 1:27: "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." This divine imprint bestows upon every person an intrinsic value. Similarly, Psalm 139:13-14 beautifully expresses this worth: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

I've seen firsthand the impact of this phrase. It's a tool that can be used by anyone facing disrespect, whether from individuals in positions of authority like police officers or nurses, or just from the general public. The New Testament also emphasizes the profound value of each person and the call to treat one another with love and respect. John 13:34-35 says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." We are all God's handiwork, as Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Impact on Women in Prostitution

The most profound stories I've heard come from women trapped in prostitution, often to support drug addictions they wish they didn't have. Several women told me they memorized that phrase, and in difficult situations with men who were excessively rude, they would assert their worth. In one day, three different women told me they declared to these men that they were worthy of dignity and respect, and in each case, they either got out of the car on their own initiative or the man let them out. These small cards have become incredibly important in that setting.

A Message for Everyone on the Streets

Beyond that, the cards also serve as a beacon for men and women on the streets who encounter rude individuals. They've started sharing the cards among themselves, offering them to a streetmate who's having a particularly bad day. By sharing this phrase and handing out these business card-sized items, my hope is to spread the message of respect and dignity far and wide.

These videos, originally presented as Facebook Live moments, are very casual, and sometimes the written format doesn't quite capture the full essence, but I hope this blog entry gives you a good sense of the heart behind it all.

You can watch the original video here: https://youtu.be/4W15UFU7gSk