The Power of Being Seen | The Power of Being Enough

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Everyone wants to be seen and everyone wants to be known. Growing up in a world with countless social media outlets and apps that filter pictures has created a whole other level to feeling worthy and accepted. I’m not saying all social media is bad, or that at 38 I don’t appreciate a good filter! But I am saying that many of the images we see can skew reality and create goals in the lives of young women that are not only unattainable, but unnecessary.

Top Buttons recently hosted our “Building Up Girls” Event. These events are some of my favorite because all of the girls we serve are invited to come together to receive training from phenomenal women who are excellent in their fields of expertise. While the girls receive important life skill information such as budgeting/financial planning and physical wellness, they also hear important life truths that pertain to who they are as individuals.

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Throughout the morning of our most recent event, it was reiterated over and over to every young lady that she was created with and for purpose. Created intentionally by a Creator who sees her, knows her, and loves her.

Many of the girls we serve come from hard places and many would be labeled “at-risk”….meaning there is likely a lack of support and stability that make them easy prey for those who do not have God’s best in mind for them. Over and over again, we have seen how these life dynamics diminish self worth in the lives of young ladies who were wonderfully and fearfully made. It is not hard for young women to fall victim to lies that their life must have been a mistake, doesn’t matter, or has no value. Believing these lies can lead to dangerous behaviors - but as the girls who attended this event heard truths that combated these types of lies, a spirit of liberty could be felt across the room.

The final speaker of the event was Lisa Kirk and she made things personal for the young ladies in attendance. One at a time, she called several up….looked them directly in the eye and spoke into them that they are seen and that they matter - just as they are. She then made each of them own that truth by speaking it for herself.….not whisper it, or mumble it…but speak it confidently to a roomful of other both impressionable and valuable young women. The first young lady who stood up had tears running down her face as our speaker locked eyes with her, SAW HER, and said she was enough. Tears started streaming down many faces in the room as the silence was only broken by the sound of spoken truth as these young ladies acknowledged and verbalized that they mattered, they’re loved, and they’re enough. WOW. It was powerful!

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Following Lisa, Sarah Powers closed by sharing her own testimony of overcoming hardship, feelings of failure from not living up to God’s standards, but yet how He saw and rescued her in the midst of it. The girls were given the opportunity to allow God to do the same for them. Heads were bowed and hands were lifted as the girls were asked if they wanted to surrender their lives and strongholds to a God who loves them, wants good for them, and will never leave them. It was a powerful ending to a beautiful event.

We know the young ladies we serve need life-skill training and we love providing it, but we also know these young ladies need the hope and acceptance of a Savior who DOES want God’s best for them. …and they don’t even need a perfectly filtered Instagram page to receive it.

They are seen as they are. And they are enough.

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Building Up Girls on #GivingTuesday

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"Giving Tuesday" is coming up quickly on Tuesday, December 1st.  It's an international day of giving back, and we knew you would be interested in an opportunity to provide greatly needed clothing to some very deserving young women!  Would you consider sponsoring one at-risk young woman at $100 to receive our unique Top Buttons Wearing Confidence Program?  Through our program, these young women receive confidence boosting educational sessions, new wardrobes of proper fitting clothing, and much more. Did you know we provide our Wearing Confidence Program to the young ladies of PACE Center for Girls, Porch Light, Heartland for Children, Youth Villa, the Dream Center, Girls Inc, and More?

WHAT TOP BUTTONS HAS MEANT TO PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS, POLK:

"PACE Center for Girls, Polk has had the privilege of a partnership with the amazing Top Buttons organization.  The collaboration between the two non-profit programs, has benefited the PACE girls in a myriad of ways.  Every month, several of our girls are able to participate in the Top Buttons Wearing Confidence Program at the Top Buttons Boutique.  There they learn many necessary skills while having a good time with the wonderful staff.  The Top Buttons team teaches girls how to dress appropriately for a variety of occasions, while maintaining their own sense of style.  Girls have the opportunity to try on an assortment of clothing and accessories through which they take new wardrobes of quality clothing for free. This exercise allows girls to have a hands-on experience while receiving input from the staff.  As part of the program, professionals teach girls how to apply make-up and style their hair in a trendy but appropriate manner.  The Top Buttons staff also comes to the PACE Center to educate our girls about topics surrounding self-esteem and positive body image.  These experiences have meant a great deal to the PACE girls. Through a meaningful approach, they are receiving valuable guidance.  Girls return to school after visiting the program elated and with increased self-esteem.  They also share what they have learned with their peers. Girls within the PACE program, are now working diligently to earn the privilege of this experience. It is something they all strive to be a part of. A big "Believing in Girls" thank you to the Top Buttons non-profit organization for your investment in the girls at PACE Center for Girls, Polk!"

- Marge Connelly, Social Services Manager at PACE Center for Girls, Polk

Top Buttons Wearing Confidence Program Recipients with their personal stylist in the pictures featured below. 6 8 2 5 4

Through our Wearing Confidence Program these young women are educated on many topics including:

"How to Dress for Job Interviews & the Workplace" "Feeling Confident from the Inside Out" "Understanding the Impact of Culture on Clothing Choices"   "Importance of Contextual Modesty"   ...AND we don't just educate these young women, we provide them with the clothing resources and tools they need to present their BEST self in every day life.

*in addition to the educational sessions, these young women receive a wardrobe of properly fitted attire, make-up with application and skin care tips, and on-going mentorship and volunteer opportunities within our boutique*

Give $100 to sponsor one girl today (click here) or keep us in mind for  #GIVINGTUESDAY. We are asking every person reading this post to sponsor 1 at-risk girl at $100. Or do what you can, every penny counts!

This year, we have had over 200 at-risk girls participate in our Wearing Confidence Program and we hope to double that number in 2016. Through this #GivingTuesday Campaign, we hope to partner with over 200 people to fund our Wearing Confidence Program through May of 2016.

Thank you for your time and support.  Please share this post with anyone who you feel would also be interested in what we are doing at Top Buttons.