In the spirit of Women’s History month, let us thank God for the hard work and dedication of the many women trailblazers who fought ardently so that we could have the endless opportunities we do today. Let us give thanks for the love and care of our mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers whose ever-present support and words of advice gave us the courage to believe in ourselves and pursue our dreams.
Let us thank God for giving the women before us the strength to persist on the seemingly impossible road towards equality. Earning the right to vote was a pivotal moment in history and a tremendous milestone for all women. As First Lady Abigail Adams forecasted, “If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to forment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” Thousands of women showed that type of fearless dedication as they exercised the power of their voices and persisted until they reached their goal.
We give thanks and pray for the courageous souls of strong women throughout history like Susan B. Anthony who voted in the presidential election in 1872 and argued that women had the constitutional right to vote in federal elections. Let us not forget Elizabeth Stanton, who lead the early women’s movement, and convened one of the first women’s rights conventions in the country. We must always recall the tremendous bravery of Harriet Tubman who risked her life for liberty and also struggled for women’s suffrage. To the women trailblazers in our great State such as Grace Dorris who was the first woman to introduce a bill in California and Esto Broughton for being the first woman to preside over a full session of the Assembly. Let us pray for women civil rights leaders, Rosa Parks and Dolores Huerta for taking a stand in the name of freedom.
To the women who took America by storm in the 60s such as Betty Friedan, thank you for challenging the inequalities in our lived reality. And to the women who continue to lead the fight, thank you for your resiliency. Though we recognize that there is still work to be done, we cannot forget that we must all work together to strengthen our democracy.
As we continue to make strides, let us not forego the mindset that the status quo is nothing more than a step backwards. Let us pray for the continuing struggles of future generations, and recognize the importance of providing mentorship to our young women, the leaders of tomorrow. As Susan B. Anthony once said, “Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.” To the generations of women to come, remember to aim high, no dream is impossible, and always remember to exercise the power of your voice.
On this day, let us pray for God’s love to lead us all from intention to action, and possibility to reality. We pray for women everywhere against all odds, to create a good place, and find the strength to go on.
Amen.
