Posts Tagged ‘Mother’s Day’
Reflections on Motherhood, Privilege and War
This afternoon my husband built our son a playhouse. Ten minutes was all it took to assemble the basic sand-colored canvas, another ten to fill it with plush blankets and toys. As the sun streamed through our living room window and my husband marveled at the safe, sweet little space he’d built for our son, I thought of Ukraine.
How many millions of families would wish right now for that safe little canvas playhouse, assembled in more time than it took Putin to turn their homes to rubble? I wonder what they chose to take with them in those ten minutes, as they pulled their babies from their beds and fled.
Viewing war and suffering through the lens of motherhood is a new experience for me. It’s raw and visceral and hard. So much harder than before. I feel connected to the millions of women fleeing Ukraine in ways I’ve never before felt. An experience, it seems, that is clearly felt by mothers all over the world as we hear about women like Lubomira, who fled Ukraine with her three daughters and three-week-old, premature son, leaving behind her husband to the mandated military conscription.
The plight of these women is almost incomprehensible to me. And it’s brought me to tears again and again as I sit with my baby boy.
As I feed him, I think of the children in Mariupol, who have been cut off from food, clean water and basic necessities for weeks.
As I rock him to sleep to sweet lullabies in his nursery, I think of the babies lining the floors of loud, overcrowded bomb shelters.
As I watch his daddy play with him, I think of all the fathers left behind. The women and children who have lost their partners and protectors during the scariest time of their lives. I think about the fact that 90% of the 4.3 million refugees are women and children without husbands and fathers — a million families separated.
Truly, I cannot comprehend the fear, the pain and the suffering. In these moments, I’ve cried out to God for mercy. Lord, what can we do?
It’s easier to shut it out. To turn it off when it all gets too much. When the headlines and images become unbearable. But then I remember, the mothers of Ukraine can’t do the same.
They can’t turn off the bombings, the sirens or the shouts of Russian soldiers. They can’t turn off the cries of their babies, their growling stomachs, their chattering teeth. They can’t distract from the knot in their throat, the pit in their stomach. They don’t get to switch the channel.
And so, nor will I.
I will bear witness to this moment. I will feel it all. I will ask God for the courage not to look away. And I will remember it’s hard for a reason. The pain in my chest. The nausea in my stomach. The knot in my throat. It’s there as a reminder that we’re not meant to shut off from the suffering of humanity. It’s our hearts, our souls, our bodies, telling us to act. To do something, anything, to help.
Will you join me in praying for the mothers of Ukraine, and the millions of mothers caught up in war and violence around the world today?
Lord,
Thank you for the extraordinary gift of motherhood. Thank you for the way it connects us, transcending culture, geography and time in its shared experience. Thank you that in times like these, it draws out the very best of our instincts to love and support. Thank you that in mothers you created a superhuman strength, one that can come only from you. Grant all of us the grace to channel this type of strength.
Lord, today we see this strength in the mothers of Ukraine. We cry out for your loving protection. We ask that you embrace these mothers in your arms of tender care. Guard them and pour upon them your comfort and strength. Give them the stamina to survive the pain and despair this war has brought. Remind them, Lord, that you have not forsaken them nor abandoned them, even in their darkest hour. Give them the words to comfort their children, and one another, as they are separated from their families by distance or death. Bless them with a peace that surpasses understanding, and remind them of your love for them each and every day.
God, we pray this prayer today not only for the mothers of Ukraine, but for all mothers caught up in war and violence around the world today. Place their hope in you Lord, so that it might renew their strength. Allow them to run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint. Pour out your love and peace upon them, Lord God, on this Mother’s Day, and every day.
In your name we pray,
Amen.
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
A Mother’s Love
This Mother’s Day, we want to wish all of our mothers, in all stages of life, a Happy Mother’s Day. We know that motherhood is a blessing, but it’s not without its trials. For many of our families, mothers have made immense sacrifices for their children. Today, we honor and thank you for all that you do.
This story originally appeared on the World Relief Memphis blog.
Seeta is a mother of four. When her family left Afghanistan, however, only three children boarded the plane with her and her husband, Noor.
Aysha, their youngest daughter at less than a year old, was forced to stay behind as her family left in search of safety in America. Having served the U.S. military as a journalist, Noor and his family could no longer stay in Afghanistan for fear of retaliation from the Taliban.
“I was working with the U.S. military as a journalist, and she was working with USAID (United State Agency for International Development) and United Nations, so it was very dangerous for us because the Taliban did not accept people who worked for foreigners,” Noor explained. “We were not safe in our country, so in order to seek safety we came here.”
Consequently, Noor and his family were offered Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) from the U.S. government as a way to not only thank them but also to protect them.
But at the time the visa paperwork was issued, Aysha had not been born. As a result, her paperwork was filed separately, and Noor and Seeta were forced to leave her behind with other family members.
“It was a hard time because we didn’t have any choice,” said Noor, who recently found work with Amazon. “We thought if we lost that chance, we wouldn’t find it again. Because of that, we left our baby there. We came here. If we had cancelled our visas, maybe we wouldn’t have been able to get [them] back.”
Seeta and her husband arrived in Memphis in October 2020 with their eight-, six- and five-year-old children. It wasn’t until two months after their arrival that they received news about Aysha’s visa. But, in order for her to come to the U.S., Seeta would have to risk going to Afghanistan and not being able to return to the U.S. because her green card had not arrived.
Determined to be reunited with her daughter, Seeta and her World Relief Good Neighbor Team began looking for a way to make it possible alongside World Relief Memphis staff. After speaking with the State Department, they discovered that her green card had been misplaced, but that she could go to Afghanistan with her current visa knowing that it was coming.
Yet, when she arrived in Afghanistan, she was greeted by a baby who didn’t recognize her. The months apart had created distance, but Seeta was patient.
“It was emotional, and she didn’t want to come with me for one day or night, like maybe she [had] forgotten me,” Seeta said. “Then she realized who I am, and now she’s not leaving me for one minute.”
Finally, Seeta brought her daughter home. Her family was together, and they could begin to rebuild their lives in safety.
Today, she works for Shelby County, helping connect others in her community with the resources they need in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After advocating for women and children’s safety in Afghanistan for many years, Seeta now seeks to empower women in the workplace.
Likewise, Aysha is flourishing.
“She’s very happy with us now. When she came, she was sad and keeping calm,” Noor said. “But now, she’s come back better than ever and is very active.”
When asked if they had hopes and dreams for the future, Noor and Seeta immediately responded.
“For sure, that’s why we are here. We are here because of these. We try to do all our best for all our children.”
Bailey Clark serves as the Communications Coordinator for World Relief Memphis. With a background in journalism and advertising, she is passionate about storytelling and its power to make a difference.
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Today, we’re recommending gifts from three of our favorite shops and books from three of our favorite women authors. Inspire the moms in your life and let them know they’re loved by giving them a gift from our Mother’s Day gift guide!
Anchor of Hope Box
Give the gift that keeps on giving with an Anchor of Hope subscription box or shop their online market for jewelry, household items and more. Anchor of Hope employs survivors of human trafficking, refugees and others who are in vulnerable situations, bringing hope and dignity to those who have experienced poverty and injustice.
prettyinside.
Pamper the moms in your life with a gift box of face masks from PrettyInside!
PrettyInside is built on the belief that all women are beautiful, that they are created in the image of God and that beauty is more than skin deep. Empower the women in your life to take a look in the mirror and channel their inner strength, courage and beauty. All PrettyInside products are sourced with the best plant-based ingredients for your skin. The packaging is 100% recyclable, and a portion of all sales go to support refugee women through the work of World Relief.
InSenseUSA
This collection of candles, soaps and bath bombs are sure to make the moms in your life feel loved and cared for. Shopowner Al Alsaadi and his parents fled their home in Iraq several years ago and were eventually resettled in the U.S. They got connected with World Relief, and with hard work and a resilient spirit, they rebuilt their life in the Chicago suburbs. Al is now a design engineer, part-time college professor and small business owner. All items are crafted with love and handmade for you.
For the people in your life who need to indulge in a little self-care, InSenseUSA is your go-to shop. This collection of candles, soaps and bath bombs are all handcrafted with love in Wheaton, Illinois.
All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols
Invite the moms in your life to embrace the beauty of living fully, right here, right now with this beautiful collection of art and poetry. In this book, Morgan Harper Nichols reminds you that light will always find you, even when the sun sets and you sit awaiting the dawn. This is a book to nourish your soul.
The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
It’s easy to forget that in the beginning, God once declared everything created as very good. For the mom who needs a fresh encounter with a familiar passage (Genesis 1), this book from Lisa Sharon Harper guides readers to discover God’s desire to restore all broken relationships and God’s vision of wholeness for a fragmented world and peace for a hurting soul.
Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
All of life’s concerns — both the delights and the trials — matter to God. In this book, Beth Moore takes readers on a journey to study biblical teachings on the Vine, vineyards, vine dressing and fruitfulness. Give this book to remind the moms in your life that God can use anything to produce fruitfulness and flourishing.
Rachel Clair serves as a Content Writer at World Relief. With a background in creative writing and children’s ministry, she is passionate about helping people of all ages think creatively and love God with their hearts, souls and minds.
Celebrate Mom with a Gift of Hope
World Relief celebrates mothers around the world who daily rise to the challenge of raising healthy children and changing their families. This Mother’s Day, why not celebrate your mom by giving her a gift in honor of these incredible women?
Giving a gift from World Relief’s Catalog of Hope will empower moms in places like Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique and Malawi and equip them with training on how to keep their children not only alive but thriving and healthy.
Mothers fight for the preservation of family and relationship. They raise their children, often help earn income, and are the source of compassion and empathy for those around them. When mothers change their families, they change their communities.
Click here to start a Health & Nutrition Care Group or provide training for raising healthy children, or click here to shop the entire catalog and give a practical gift that will change lives.
Thank you for Standing with the Vulnerable!
Picture by Michael Master