In 2024, I was commissioned to write a poem for International Women's Day. I wrote four. They chose one. I am left with three unpublished poems dedicated to this day. The history of International Women's Day is almost 125 years old starting in 1909 - women protesting labor inequity and, of course, rooted in suffrage around the world.
Admittedly, my focus is less historical and more existential. Women have been integral to life since the beginning of time. Equally true, there has often been a chasm of disparity in the way cultures and societies have treated the woman in their midst. My perspective is to write from the lens of our Creator and His intentions for the way women are to be honored, valued and loved. The heart of Jesus for women is the most deep and abiding love.
In my head, this poem started as a children's Sunday School song from my growing up and one I still like to sing to my grandchildren.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
The poem ends personally with the borrowed phrase from the children's song, 'Jesus Loves Me' but redressed for the reader.
If you are a woman reading this, possibly a survivor of some kind of abuse, disparity, inequity, injustice, societal persecution or worse--may you always remember that you have a God over place and time who loves you and He is your ultimate freedom.
Happy International Women's Day!
Jesus Loves You
Jesus loves the international women of the world
Every continent
Every shade of pigment
Every length of glorious hair
Every cultural trademark of beauty
Every burden they must bear
In every circumstance —
Every tongue, tribe, or nation
Every demographic
Every geographic
Old, young
It matters not
He loves the whole melting pot.
And in His image made
As Christ followers, we
Women of this day, in this age
Must love unconditionally
And tell the whole world
Show the whole world
That the trafficked, oppressed, orphaned and poor
The widow, the barren; the vulnerable on every shore
Have a God over all place, person, and time
We must give voice to the Truth
Who loves them
And sees them
And hears them
And will be their Strong Tower.
We must give feet to the Peace
That holds them
And remembers them
And keeps them
And will be their Saving Power.
We must give way to the Life
Who heals them
And delivers them
And feeds them
And will be their Merciful Grace.
We must give hands to the Love
Who blesses them
And quiets them
And sings over them
And will be their Safest Place.
International Women’s Day
Is not a day to puff out our chests
And extol the virtues of women
It is a day to humble ourselves
Before a Great Big God
Who knows our virtue lies only in Him
He, who fashioned the woman
In her mother’s womb
He, who holds the world in His palm
He, who knows that a day is like a thousand years
He, who has always taken up the cause of those suffering
And offered them the ultimate freedom as their suffrage
He, He is Lord of it all.
So, let us be praised because we fear the Lord
Let us rise on eagles' wings because we waited on the Lord
And always, let us do our part
For Jesus loves the women of the world
All the international women of the world
Every shade of pigment
Precious in His sight,
Jesus loves.
“Woman, be loosed”
“Woman, I am He”
“Woman, why do you weep?”
Jesus loves you.
CJZ
2.26.24
6:50pm
Much if not most of the phraseology I use in this poem is from the Bible. The last three phrases Jesus speaks to women he heals, comforts and makes Himself known to after the resurrection.
These are the references for future reflection.
Luke 13:10-17
Luke 4:1-26
John 20:11-18
Comments