If You Had Told Me…
ghm-globaladminIf you had told me years ago that I would be writing about humanitarian work for International Women’s Day, I probably would have laughed and said,
"You clearly don’t know me."
I’m not a doctor.
I’m not a field worker trekking through remote villages with a backpack and a satellite phone.
I’m just… me.
A woman trying to do her best. A mom. Someone who somehow always has a craft project going. A parish volunteer who has learned that saying “yes” once at church can very quickly turn into three committees and a WhatsApp group that never sleeps.
In other words, a pretty ordinary life.
But International Women’s Day has a way of making you pause and reflect on the quiet things we often take for granted.
I have a home.
I turn on a tap and there is clean water.
I can walk into a grocery store and buy food.
If life throws me a curveball, I have family I can call. I have a community around me.
Those things might sound simple, but they are extraordinary privileges in many parts of the world.
Being involved with Global Humanitarian Mission has made that reality impossible to ignore. Through the stories and communities we encounter, I’ve learned that many women carry responsibilities that would overwhelm most of us. They wake up before sunrise to collect water, stretch limited food to feed their families, and hold their households together with incredible strength and resilience.
And they do it quietly.
That’s what makes International Women’s Day meaningful to me. It’s not only about celebrating famous leaders or groundbreaking achievements.
"It’s also about recognizing the millions of women whose strength shows up in everyday survival, sacrifice, and love for their families."
Being part of Global Humanitarian Mission has taught me something else too:
"you don’t have to be extraordinary to care about the world."
You don’t have to change careers, move across the globe, or become an expert in international development.
Sometimes it simply means paying attention. Listening to stories. Using whatever gifts you have-your time, your voice, your creativity-to help someone else live with a little more dignity.
Years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined myself being part of this kind of work.
But life has a funny way of leading you where you’re meant to be.
And if International Women’s Day reminds me of anything, it’s this: ordinary women are capable of extraordinary compassion.
