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by Stefanie CoutinhoAs a young woman, I am discovering what a great privilege it is to be called just that. We, as women, have been beautifully and specially created in God’s image. This means that we reflect several of His characteristics – love and caring, strength and compassion, justice and peace, to name a few. Many women I have met, no matter what their nationality, age, or life status, have each been inspiring in their own way, bringing their own resources, talents and abilities to their spheres of influence. The same is true of the many women I have heard and read about in history.
March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day appointed by the United Nations and recognized internationally for the purpose of taking time to remember and celebrate the many milestones marked by women’s achievements around the world, especially in the advancement of equality, justice and peace. In fact, the UN bases its work in this field on the principle that “no enduring solution to society's most threatening social, economic and political problems can be found without the full participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's women” (http://www.un.org).
For decades, ordinary women have been making history because of their desire and struggle to be recognized in their humanity as equals. They have represented you and me in the fight to achieve universal suffrage – the civil right to vote – for women. They have also defended our right to work, and see the end of discrimination on the job. They fought for decent working conditions and fair wages. Across Europe, women even united to hold peace rallies in the face of World War I.
So how can we remember this special day? Here are a few suggestions.
- Express your gratitude. Thank God for these historical figures who fought for justice and peace, and thank Him that He hears and saves us. Appreciate the women in your life, and take the time to thank those who have invested in you with love.
- Know who you are. Search the Scriptures to see what the Bible says about women. Jesus treated women with the utmost respect and love and it is in Him that we can find our identity and our wholeness. Thank God for who He created you to be and continue to depend on Him to make you the kind of woman He sees you as.
- Respect yourself and others. Many times we tend to only find the faults in others and ourselves. But this perspective brings destruction. Instead of harboring a spirit of condemnation, let us in humility yield to the Spirit of holiness. Let us meditate on things that are good, pure and lovely. These good things will eventually come to fruition in ways we sometimes cannot perceive.
- Learn from history. Take time out to read and learn about the struggles and achievements of women. It is the least we can do for those who have served us sacrificially in the past and made our world better today.
- Remember your contemporaries around the globe. Though women have made major in-roads towards achieving equality, the struggle is not yet over. Sadly, many women around the world still suffer abuse at the hands of injustice and hatred. Pray for them. Let’s not turn a deaf ear to these evils; the responsibility lies in our hands as human beings. Ask how you can help.
- Reach out to women in your community. Get to know the people around you and have the privilege of hearing their personal stories. Tell them about your own journey with Christ. Small gestures of kindness and thoughtfulness go a long way and can impact someone in great and unexpected ways.
- Celebrate diversity. Acknowledge women who are of different cultures and backgrounds from you. It is often easy to only be around those who are like us. Instead, embrace someone new and learn to appreciate their uniqueness and difference.
But don’t just stop there; think of what else you can do. Get together with your friends to brainstorm ideas to celebrate International Women's Day. I know for a fact that women are creative! The possibilities are endless. Most of all, remain hopeful – in faith – about what needs to be done towards achieving justice and equality for women.
Interested in adding value to other women?
Stefanie Coutinho is the managing editor at Christian Women Today. She enjoys spicy Asian food and has recently taken up the art of origami.
Related Reading:
Celebrate International Women's Day with an outreach
Prayer for suffering women
Learn to see yourself as God sees you
You can be more confident
