I come from families full of women. I'm the youngest of four girls. I live with two daughters. Daughters, sisters, mothers, + girlfriends fuel my purpose. I've had the most amazing opportunities to follow my dreams in pursuit of education, employment, and vocation. I've been enabled by a hardworking, loving father, but also by the efforts of my hardworking mother. I was fortunate to get to follow some of the well-blazed trails of my sisters, which boosted my confidence to venture off of them as well. Through an empowered partnership with my husband, I've been able to work at home + learn alongside my girls how to become the woman I am becoming...while they become the women they are becoming.
I love being a woman. Women are powerful + fierce...nurturing + compassionate...capable + intelligent...entitled + worthy. I imagine I'm not alone in feeling this way. I am privileged.
This mindset is far from the situations in which many women + girls find themselves today. Stunted education, arranged marriage, sexual slavery, genital mutilation, selling of girls, rape, and forced abortion are all current practices.
Empowered women fight to empower women.
I love being a woman. Women are powerful + fierce...nurturing + compassionate...capable + intelligent...entitled + worthy. I imagine I'm not alone in feeling this way. I am privileged.
This mindset is far from the situations in which many women + girls find themselves today. Stunted education, arranged marriage, sexual slavery, genital mutilation, selling of girls, rape, and forced abortion are all current practices.
Empowered women fight to empower women.
A few tangible ways to celebrate International Women's Day today (or tomorrow):
-Choose clothing from companies that ensure fair wages + fair treatment for the women (+ men) who make them. The majority of garment workers are women...many of whom have very little power to change their situations. Many women live hours away from their own children in order to support them. Our choices tell clothing companies that we value these women + expect them to be paid and treated well.
-Support + love a girl through Compassion. Compassion works with local churches to provide prenatal care, education, mentorship, safety, meals, and love for children + families around the world. It is such a privilege to correspond with the girls we help support + to see them grow. They encourage us to find joy in every drop of life.
-Support World Relief or the International Rescue Committee and their work with refugees. No one wants to be a refugee. Everyone deserves a home.
-Have a conversation regarding vulnerable women + what can be done to help. We can help.
-Hug the women + girls in your life. Give them a call. Write down some words of appreciation + put them in the mail.
Happy International Women's Day to all the courageous, compassionate, hardworking, beautiful, important, intelligent, valuable, amazing women reading these words today!
Sending love + appreciation your way,
Jane
-Choose clothing from companies that ensure fair wages + fair treatment for the women (+ men) who make them. The majority of garment workers are women...many of whom have very little power to change their situations. Many women live hours away from their own children in order to support them. Our choices tell clothing companies that we value these women + expect them to be paid and treated well.
-Support + love a girl through Compassion. Compassion works with local churches to provide prenatal care, education, mentorship, safety, meals, and love for children + families around the world. It is such a privilege to correspond with the girls we help support + to see them grow. They encourage us to find joy in every drop of life.
-Support World Relief or the International Rescue Committee and their work with refugees. No one wants to be a refugee. Everyone deserves a home.
-Have a conversation regarding vulnerable women + what can be done to help. We can help.
-Hug the women + girls in your life. Give them a call. Write down some words of appreciation + put them in the mail.
Happy International Women's Day to all the courageous, compassionate, hardworking, beautiful, important, intelligent, valuable, amazing women reading these words today!
Sending love + appreciation your way,
Jane
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