no ordinary women

On this day when we officially celebrate International Women’s Day, I won’t give you a list of women that had had influence in the world in the fields of science, finance, arts, sports, or politics.
Instead, I want you to think of what we call “ordinary women,” yes, the woman that is your cashier register at your local grocery store, or the big store. The woman that drives that van that brings your online shopping packages. The women that work long hours in factories or warehouses where many of the products we use are being made or packed. The women that clean airports, shopping malls, and many other public or private buildings. The women that drive the school buses, the ladies that work at the public or private school cafeterias making sure that our children have food. The women that work in the fields where we get our fruits and vegetables.
What about your neighbors? That lady that goes every day for walks with her dog, or her children or grandchildren. What about the ladies in your local church or congregation? The one that is always helping in a quiet way by giving of her time by feeding others, volunteering for hours, days, and if you make a recount, she has been doing that for years.
Do we take the time to stop and ponder the positive influence these ‘ordinary women’ have in our society? And to be clear, there are no ordinary women, we are extraordinary in our own way, under our circumstances and doing the best in our various stages in life.
Nothing wrong with recognizing the women in the areas I mentioned at the beginning, because they have made amazing things for many. But can we also take the time and see what a stay at home mom does every day for her family? The women that are taking care of aging parents or have a child that will need them for life. From the mother who is living in a nice quiet neighborhood, to the woman that must live in a refugee camp. To the woman that has an education that allows her to provide for her family, to the woman that has lost everything due to war and now has to figure out how to just survive every day.
Today as we celebrate and recognize International Women’s Day, let’s not forget that there are many women that still live in oppression, in fear, in war, in poverty, in a constant state of crisis. We still have so much to learn from each other and support each other.
Each woman was once a little girl, a girl with dreams, a girl that laughed and wanted to grow up and accomplish whatever dreams she had. In this digital era where we can use social media to know of what’s happening in other parts of the world, let’s not forget about our closest women in our communities. Let’s remember our young women in our communities, in our church congregations, in our activities. They are the ones that will keep this legacy of inclusion, love, respect, and a grateful heart.
We all want to be loved, included, accepted, and feel that we can make a difference every day. Can we see each other? Can I see them? Can I see you? Can you see me? Thank you for the amazing women in my life, for the women that paved the way so I could be here, for the women that do amazing ‘ordinary’ things and make my life better in many ways every day.

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