The Faithful Witness of Sisterhood

Artwork showing a group of raised hands of women of diverse cultures, in various patterned clothing and jewelry, communicating allyship, community, feminism, and sisterhood.

Today is International Women’s Day. Since 1911, International Women’s Day has existed to celebrate women, honor their contributions, advocate for their equality, recognize their struggles, activate on behalf of their needs and rights, including the right to safety and education, and lift their voices. Gender equality is an inclusive movement where diverse gender identities, cultures, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, economic status, abilities, orientations, occupations, and multiple generations come together in community, in action, and hope.

I live in the wealthiest country in the world. A country where most of us can only imagine (yet hardly ever do) the intense struggles so many other women face around the world daily, where fighting for day-to-day survival for themselves and their families is the relentless task of each and every moment. These women have become for me faithful witnesses to what is possible and truly awe-inspiring in God’s world today.

I support an organization called the Global Fund for Women, and several weeks ago, I attended their webinar on Hope and Resilience, where two women, both of whom live under authoritarian rule, spoke about fighting in their respective countries on behalf of women and other vulnerable communities. What a learning for me. As I sit in my comfortable home wringing my hands, bemoaning how difficult it is to stay hopeful and what in the world can I possibly do for justice around me, these women are risking their lives to achieve even the smallest of changes—andthey are, in fact, making it happen. One of them, Reem Alhaswani, who supports women in Syrian conflict zones, said:

“Finding hope is a daily struggle. It is not easy. It’s tough to sustain.  We will lose it some days but accepting that is also important [in order] to move on and to not get stuck in this feeling of hopelessness . . .. Realizing that our wellbeing and our mental health is a responsibility toward others and [sustaining] our collective work.”

What a witness. A woman halfway around the world living such a different life from mine is a faithful witness of God’s work in the world and a light to me. If she can hold on to hope and resilience on the front lines in Syria, how can I not? How dare I not? And in our resilience, think how powerfully our own witness can be for those around us, near and far. And that power can be found in a smile, a kind word, a helping hand, a simple connection; no witness is too small, each one connects and changes us and generates ripples that extend far beyond what we could have imagined.

If you’d like to learn more about International Women’s Day, or would like to know how you can get involved, check out their website here:  International Women’s Day.

And here’s a faithful witness to inspire us all: the multi-talented Babbie Mason, gospel singer, songwriter, author, and educator; check out her song  “A Place Called Sisterhood” with April Barron and Jeanine Davis.

CHORUS:

Come one, come all
Everybody’s welcome
No matter where you’re from
Make this your destination.
Though it may be an uphill climb
Just look around and you will find
We’re in this together
And life is always good
In this place called Sisterhood.

Shared by Karla Hendrick