BAREFOOT DAY 890:
The most painful experience so far in my barefoot journey happened this morning. When I stepped out of my house this morning, there was 2 inches of snow on the ground. It was 5º(F), -15º(C). Needless to say, the cold hit my bare feet immediately. It's about a 20 foot walk from my house to the car. I walked briskly. Thanks to my precious (and concerned) wife, the car had been warming up. Little did I know, the heater was not working properly so when I got in, cold air was blowing on my already wet, snow covered feet. My feet (especially my toes) were in severe pain. I was concerned about frostbite. I dried off my feet with a hand towel I have in the car, but the pain was still really bad.
As it happens, whenever I experience pain in my feet from being barefoot, my mind immediately takes me back to July 19th, 2010 when my Barefoot Journey began. I'm then reminded of why I started living barefoot in the first place. Although it doesn't take the pain away - it makes it much, much more bearable as I know the pain will eventually subside.
I thought about the Christmas Holiday yesterday. Even though I knew it wasn't anything close to a holiday for the girls we try to rescue, I would remain silent about it, as I didn't want to take away from the joy others were experiencing. I know the girls we try to rescue would not receive a gift - they would BE the gift for depraved men looking to "celebrate."
The more I thought about why I'm going barefoot (regardless of the conditions), the easier it was to bear whatever pain I was experiencing. My pain would eventually go away, the pain of these precious children would continue, minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day - until the day they are rescued and set free from their bondage - or they die.
Many people ridicule me, laugh at me, tell me I'm crazy for being barefoot (especially during the cold Colorado winters), but I know what I heard the day I began this journey and I know what I heard one year later (when I was originally going to stop). That still small voice said; "Keep going, those children are still out there."
Is my going barefoot helping to actually rescue any children? After being totally barefoot now for almost two and half years I can say without hesitation, YES, it has definitely helped rescue children. I have seen how it has motivated others to action in helping me raise both awareness and much needed funds that are used to help secure those rescues.
My friends (and anyone else reading this), as long as there's another child who needs to be rescued from the nightmare and atrocity of the child sex trade, I WILL go barefoot until that last child is rescued - or I'm dead.
So to those who would rather discourage me instead of encouraging me, please stop telling me to end my Barefoot Journey. I will not stop. I will not quit. Not as long as there's another child who needs to be rescued. Instead, you can join me, not in going barefoot - but by helping me set another child free.
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who do nothing about it." ~ Albert Einstein
Dr. Jeff Brodsky
President/Founder
JOY International
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” ~ Psalm 126:5
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