Thursday, March 8, 2018 – International Women’s Day

The great paradox of our lives is that we are often concerned about what we do or still can do, but we are most likely to be remembered for who we were.

Henri Nouwen, The Greatest Gift

Today is International Women’s Day and there will be accolades for women from all over the world who have contributed something lasting and significant. Good stuff.

But I’m thinking simple this morning.

I’m thinking of my grandma raising three young children by herself during the Great Depression.

I’m thinking of my mom, a quiet and private woman who was not without fault, but who made a home for her family and cared for an ailing husband in what should have been their better years and who died far, far too young.

I’m thinking of my mother-in-love on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday who said her greatest accomplishment was having four children and watching them grow and who advised us all: “You are all computer literate and so have the world at your fingertips. So, go make a difference; you can make a difference; go make a difference in the world.”

I’m thinking of my daughter walking, with grace, a path she would not have chosen, but doing it anyway and continuing to make tough choices, doing the hard and necessary work, and overcoming.

I’m thinking of my granddaughters—brave and confident little ones—and wondering what the world will look like for them.

And I’m thinking that we all make a difference of some sort. Whether our influence reaches millions, or is felt most strongly in the heart of a single soul, we will all leave a legacy when we leave this earth—what it looks like is largely determined by choices we make.

We are all called to use the unique gifting and purpose placed In us, not to draw attention to our accomplishments, but to honour our Creator and to make the path we walk better for our having walked it.

Whether our reach appears wide, or whether our influence makes a difference in one solitary soul, the vastness of our influence does not determine its worth

And so, today we honour women who have made, and who continue to make, a difference. That’s all of us.

Happy International Women’s Day. Let’s go and make a difference in the world.