No Abuse Ever – Body, Mind or Spirit

The final Celebrate Women prompt asks what still needs to be done to raise awareness about women’s rights either locally or globally. What women’s causes really need to be addressed and how would you address these issues?

That is such an overwhelming question. There are so many women’s issues locally and around the world that I would like to see solved.

freedom ... !photo © 2010 Kalyan Chakravarthy | more info (via: Wylio)

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I have freedom, peace and hope … and I want that for every person.

That does not mean they need to have a life like I do. They don’t need to change themselves or any part of their world that they like. And that honors them. They don’t need to believe everything I believe.

I want freedom for them to be who they were created to be. To fully realize the value they have … not for what they do, or what they believe, but simply because they are human.

I want women across the world and women across town to never be abused … body, mind or spirit.

Right now I feel overwhelmed. It’s hard to imagine how that will ever happen. But for a time, it was hard to imagine that I’d ever run again.

But step by step … I did.

Running happened after I accepted my reality … through tears, anger and prayer. While crying and cursing, I focused on the truth of the tough obstacles ahead of me. Then surrounded myself with doctors, counselors, and supportive friends that could help me move forward.

Slowly one step at a time … I ran again.

So now as I feel overwhelmed … I pause, take a deep breath and remember that same principal can be applied to helping others find hope in their lives … whether that is a woman forced in a lifestyle she doesn’t want in India or in rural Pennsylvania.

My prayer for every person is … freedom, peace and hope.

What can I do today to make that an active prayer? What can you do? What can we do together?

Go here to read posts from others that Celebrate Women.
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My first Celebrate Women post - Are Girls as Valuable as Boys?
My second Celebrate Women post - No to Labels & Yes to People
My third Celebrate Women post – More is Caught Than Taught
My fourth Celebrate Women post – Books, Books and more Books
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  • Anonymous

    For me, getting past the overwhelmed stage into the do something stage is the most difficult. I can’t prevent every woman from being abused, but I can protect my daughter, my sister, the women around me. I think that’s how we begin ending the abuse of women–we protect those around us.

    Lovely post, thank you for joining with us!

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Glad to hear I’m not alone with the overwhelming feeling. Great advice to start with the women around us – thanks!

  • Veronica

    It is daunting, the call to action, but starting at home is the best way to start.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Yes, close to home … one step at a time.

  • http://www.messiahmom.wordpress.com Kristinherdy

    I think getting involved at the local level in organizations that heal the abused, prevent the at-risk from being abused and educating our daughters and sons to treat each other with respect are the best ways to end abuse.

  • http://www.alise-write.com Alise Wright

    It’s so easy to ignore the abuse that we inflict on ourselves. I love what you’ve said here. I hope we can encourage one another not to allow those negative thoughts to hold us captive!