Throughout the month of March, we celebrate Women’s History. It is an opportunity to remind all people of the significant impact women have made on our world throughout all time and yet have not gotten the recognition they deserve. Too often the achievements of women have been dismissed or undervalued or worse credit has been given to men. Please hear that I am not disparaging men. Men have made advancement for society that has been highly beneficial too. But they have also gotten the credit for their achievements while many women have not. So, I am grateful for the opportunity to have a month where we are reminded of the impact and differences women have made.
Who are some of these women in history? How about Sacagawea who ensured Lewis and Clark’s expedition would be a success as she was familiar with the territory they wanted to map. What about Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony, or Alice Paul? All women who worked tirelessly for the rights of women to vote. Harriet Tubman who in addition to her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, also worked as a spy for the Union during the Civil War. Amelia Earhart, one of the first female pilots. Misty Copeland, the first African-American to be named a principle dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. Or Katherine Johnson a math genius who helped to calculate the trajectory of our country’s first human space flight. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first women to get a medical degree and paved the way for countless other women to follow in her footsteps. Sally Ride, the first American women to fly in space. Jane Goodall, Anne Frank, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Indira Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hedy Lamarr, Frida Kahlo, Queen Elizabeth II, Ella Fitzgerald, Margaret Sanger, Aretha Franklin, Sandra Day O’Connor, Amy Tan, Toni Morrison, Madeleine Albright, and the list of names across all disciplines in our world could go on and on. And I am sure you can think of many, many other names to add to the list above. Women have impacted every aspect of our society in ways that are incalculable.
In addition to those who have made significant impacts to our world, we have all the unsung women who have chosen to be homemakers and have stayed home to raise their children. Nurturing them for the lives they will lead. Teaching them and guiding them to be the best they can be in what ever they choose as their profession.
To all the men and boys out there I would like to say this:
I would encourage each of you to thank the women in your life. To let them know how much you appreciate all they have done for you. If they are your wife or significant other, then tell them how much you love them. If they are your sister or aunt, tell them you love them for all they do and the impact they are making in the world. If they are your mother or grandmother, tell them you love them and are grateful to the sacrifices they have made on your behalf.
For those who have dysfunctional families. First let me say I am sorry the women in your life have not been the people you needed them to be. Let me also say to you that they are who they are because of how they were raised and the circumstances in their lives that sent them down different paths. To you I would say, offer them compassion and lovingly set boundaries with them.
This month we celebrate the contributions of women. We have made a difference in this world. And we have done it because we love our families and we want our world to be a better place for the generations to come.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
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