they gave me the world

Recently, Threads hosted a week of posts specifically curated for International Women's Day by Dr Clare Rush. One of them, entitled They Gave Me A Box, has been widely shared across social media. It's a poem describing the way the author experienced church and growing up in it as a young woman.

It just hasn't happened that way for me. If I was to rewrite this poem to tell my story it'd be called "They gave me the world"

For me, church has been a place where I learnt who I am, while being surrounded by amazing people with a great wealth of experience and wisdom between them. As I've grown up there have been plenty of wonderful people praying for me.

As a child in the baptist church where I grew up, women in leadership roles was just as common as men and I'm grateful for the role models. I've seen and heard countless fantastic (and terrible!) speakers, both male and female. It's always felt normal for me to see women in those positions as well as men.

I've been given opportunities to develop my skills, practice leadership, participate in all sorts of things alongside those more experienced than me, and through this I've been involved in all sorts of things in my home town, in the UK and around the world too. I've been encouraged, discipled and nurtured by men and women alike.

I've never felt like there were things I couldn't do because of being a woman. I realise what an incredible privilege this is. I know it happens. I know the blog below rings true for many women in the church, and actually many men too. But I also know from personal experience that this isn't an exclusive truth. My story isn't unique.

Because of the church I've been to places I'd never otherwise have been.
Because of the church I've had opportunities I wouldn't have been offered anywhere else.
Because of the church I've had experiences I wouldn't have had access to.
And these things have made me the person I am today.

They gave me the world...
... and I'm thankful.

every day women

I am a woman every day.
Today is no different.

We differ from men, physically, emotionally, maybe even spirituality.
But let's be honest, most of us aren't the same as the next woman either.

Invite us to speak at your events because we have something to say,
Not because we maintain gender balance on your programme.

Give us jobs when we are the best candidates at application or interview
Not because you need another woman on your staff list.

And yes, let's campaign for an end to violence towards women, worldwide.
But violence towards men must stop too.
About a quarter of domestic violence cases in the uk involve a male victim.

I'll campaign for the education of women worldwide.
Teach, train and invest in girls in every community.
And the boys too.

I am grateful for the many women in my life
who have inspired me
and many men too, who have demonstrated life's possibilities, ways of living, depths of faith.

In Christ there is no male or female
so let us celebrate one another
value one another
enjoy the differences
relax in the similarities
support each other with our gifts and strengths
and allow ourselves to be supported by the strengths of those around us
stand against violence and injustice towards all people
prioritise education for entire communities

Because we are women every day.
And what defines who we are is so much more than that.