No Nation Can Rise Higher Than The work of Its Woman part l
This is my Mother! She was a Windrush traveler, arriving in the UK in the early 50’s and worked all her life, managing the home, raising the children with my father, and battling a misdiagnosed illness named Schizophrenia. None the less she was a kind and forgiving woman, enduring and strong; kept a clean home, a great cook and was loved by all who knew her. She died at the age of 74, way before her time, it seems. I could write about her pain, that she never displayed or the wicked racist acts against her in ‘one of those mental institutions, closed down in the late 70’s, but instead, I think she would want to be remembered for resilience, her ability to maintain her beauty and keeping up prayers. This picture is an old work I.D. picture. It really does not do her justice, but she did not like taking photos so…
I think of her almost every day. Remembering times, she would be creaming her silky dark chocolate skin, only requiring the minimum of makeup over her black, naturally plucked eyebrows and delicately layered lipstick, just enough to balance her look, ready for the best day of her week, Church! I still wonder and ask myself today, how did she do it all? and while, I realise only now, maintaining such poised and patient countenance? She is part of my measure, how I make decisions and become cause over effect. My goal is to ensure I continue to make a change, and so her time was not wasted.
As a Mother myself now, with adult children in this present time, I ask myself the continuing question. What is my work today? I ask you the reader about your Mother/Carer. What is the Best you know of your Mother and how do you see your work today? Self-care? Raising Children? Home Making? Business and Travelling? Spiritual Awareness, Food and Well-being? How do our choices effect the emerging changes, as we speak? And why is choice important?
Mother worked extremely hard, as many did in her time and continue to do so today. An incredibly significant and special generation. So, when the statement;
No Nation Can Rise Higher Than [The Work of] Its Woman
what is the root, true meaning and education of this statement? After all, many women from all walks of life work painfully hard and living standards are still poor and, has indeed flatlined. So, as we ponder on these self-inquiring questions, we invite to explore this Glorious Statement, where it first came from, and whether it can help to make change, including our younger women and girls, for better work-ing lives.
More next issue…
