Above All, Love Deeply

For many, Valentine’s Day is a reason to celebrate romantic love, meaningful friendship, or love for family members. We give gifts of sweet treats, flowers, or handwritten cards. But sadly, we know that not everyone has seen or experienced a safe kind of love.

For victims of human trafficking, the idea of love is greatly skewed. Predators use force, fraud, coercion, and manipulation to compel their victims into exploitative acts, often while masking their actions as expressions of “love.” Traffickers groom their victims by using love – romantic love, friendship and familial love – to manipulate them into cooperating in their own exploitation. Predators take advantage of  people’s vulnerabilities, whether economic, emotional, or social, to exploit and gain control over their victims, promising love, protection, and a better life.*

This distorted version of love can be incredibly confusing and traumatic. Victims may feel trapped in abusive relationships, believing that their trafficker genuinely cares for them despite the violence and exploitation they endure. This manipulation not only perpetuates the cycle of abuse, but also makes it harder for victims to seek help or escape their situation. In such cases, the celebration of holidays (including Valentine’s Day) may bring up difficult and triggering feelings.

As followers of Jesus, we have encountered the purest form of love. So, how do we respond to this profound love from our Savior? His love should compel us to extend love to those who are vulnerable. As 1 Peter 4:8 instructs “Above all, love each other deeply”

This is why we deeply desire that the next generation of young men and women know what true love is and what it is not. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Love will not exploit you. Love will not hurt you. Love will not manipulate you. We can look to our God for the ultimate example of love and extend His love to those who are vulnerable to exploitation. 

To learn more about our anti-exploitation ministry of awareness, prevention, and restoration for survivors, visit adornedingrace.org/aboutus

*For more information about trafficking, visit PolarisProject.org

Elise Petrovich is Adorned in Grace’s Volunteer Developer. She and her husband Caleb moved from Florida to Portland in 2022. Drawn to Compassion Connect during their transition, Elise’s discovery of the Adorned In Grace Bridal Shop model ignited her enthusiasm. With a background in anti-trafficking direct care, she now channels her passion for empowerment as Volunteer Developer at Adorned In Grace. Elise thrives on uncovering each volunteer’s unique gifts and inspiring them to serve brides and combat exploitation. Outside the shop, she and Caleb bond over cooking, road trips, and their shared service within the Church.