For Souvenir & Other Women.

When I picked up her picture I couldn't put it back down. I tried to, I tried to make excuses in my head, I don't have the money, I don't have a job, how could I take repsonsibility of a child? I had friends who had sponsored, my friend Mel said she never had to worry about making her payments, God always provided. It hit me then that I was just a vessel, and so I went back to the table. I scanned the faces looking for, I don't know, what do people look at when they scan those? The cutest kid? The kid in the worst country? My eyes fell on Souvenir and I couldn't look away. I knew she was the one. I picked her up, still hestitant if I could commit to taking care of her, even from miles and miles away. I just felt convicted to make her life better. I had just read Devil on the Cross by Ngugi the year before for literary criticism, I think it's technically out of print, but if you can find it, read it. And I felt convicted about the very real hardships women in other countries are still facing.

Today is international women's day,a "global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future." Today I'm thinking and praying about little Souvenir, that she would be protected from rape and other male abuse, that she would find drinking water, and food for her family, that she would be kept free from the burden that is HIV, that she could go to school and learn, and love learning as much as I do. That she would grow up to be a strong vibrant woman, the head of her household.

For me, today is not so much about equality, in the workplace, or in my relationships, it's not about, women losing their jobs because they got pregnant, or getting paid less than men. Though I think these things are unfair, what I'm focused on is making sure girls like Souvenir get to grow up in a world that respects them. That she would not be seen as weak or easily manipulated because she is a woman. No matter what your views on today are (and I've heard plenty of ridiculous ones this morning) remember that there are little girls out there who should know that they are beautiful and loved. They should know that they are precious and do not deserve to be abused or in pain. They should know that they can do anything, even if it is "just" staying home and managing their family, because that is not an easy task.

nor is it always enough for us. Some of us are strong intellectual women who crave a family, but also desire to be something, to bring something else of worth into the world, as a woman and a writer I struggle with this tension but I also revel in it. That I was created to be whatever I want to be, and my parents loved me enough and supported me enough to let me be whatever I want to be. I pray that Souvenir feels the same thing.

I hope you understand today that it's not about equality in everything, it is, for me, equality in the important things. Her safety, her understanding, her value of herself as a person and not a lesser creature. I hope you will understand, and maybe even help.