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Happy Women’s History Month, everyone!
Here in the U.S. I am blessed to be celebrating this month in peace, but I have been thinking a lot about the women of Ukraine, who are once again bravely defending their homes, some for the second or third time in their lives. From members of Parliament to citizens from the countryside, they are joining together in Resistance.
When we think about war, it is usually the soldiers on the battlefield or the government leaders (mostly men) who come to mind. But for all of known history, women have been fighting in their own ways. Today, as we kick off this important month, I want to remember all the women, past and present, who have:
- Like Boudicca, led revolts when their homes were invaded.
- Like Boudicca’s daughters, survived rape and other forms of abuse at enemy hands.
- Like Catherine Van Rensselaer and Peggy Schuyler, burned their own crops so the enemy wouldn’t have anything to eat.
- Like Hypatia, defended the intellectual and cultural centers of their cities.
- Like Irena Sendler, risked their lives to save children from death at enemy hands.
- Like Virginia Minor, supplied hospitals with food and comforted the sick and dying.
- Like Catherine McAuley and her Sisters of Mercy, walked bravely onto the front lines and into enemy territory to nurse the wounded and dying on both sides.
- Like Catherine Jarrige and the martyrs of Compiegne, stayed true to their faith and values, even in the face of death.
- Like Elise Rivet, gave their lives in exchange for those of the innocent.
- Like Stanislawa Leszczyńska, aided women in their hour of need and brought new life into the world amid death and darkness.
- Like Hedy Lamarr, used their intelligence to invent revolutionary technology in times of war.
- Like Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah and Eleanor Roosevelt, used their diplomatic skills to try and broker peace.
- Like Deborah Sampson, hid their sex in order to fight in their army.
- Like Naomi Parker Fraley, the real Rosie the Riveter, worked in factories, producing the items men needed to fight.
And the millions of unnamed, ordinary women who have:
- Taken up arms (legally or not) to defend her homes, families, and homelands.
- Governed or run their lands while men were away at war.
- Lost children, husbands, fathers, brothers and fellow women to war.
- Lost their lives to bombings, gunfire and other violence.
- Sewed clothing, made bandages and cooked food for those who would fight.
- Raised money to aid their cause.
- Prayed for peace while bombs fell around them and gunfire blared.
We salute you and thank you for all you have done. May we learn from your strength, tenacity and courage. And may your efforts never be forgotten.
If you are the praying kind, please do so for the women of Ukraine and all who face similar circumstances around the world.