Their names might have been
Rosie,
Ida,
Mary,
or
Claire.
We don’t know because history
looked over,
forgot to care.
She might have been
Shelly,
Charlotte,
Margaret,
or
Marsha.
Forgotten because they weren’t
men
with titles
and power.
Yet, If one takes a moment to reflect,
it has been the women
in our lives,
in our world,
in our wars,
in our businesses,
in our churches,
hidden behind closed doors
who have held everything together
and showed us what
determination,
sacrifice,
integrity,
and service
are for.
Their voices have been too long
and are still often muted,
so we must do everything we can
to be sure they are more than included.
And even though we are doing better
at showing our thanks,
of highlighting the women in our world
and giving them their overdue recognition,
on this International Women’s Day,
I urge you to
stop,
reflect
and
encourage the women in your life
to keep on fighting.
Someday, maybe we won’t have to remember
that there are ones we have forgotten.