HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
She is strong. She is kind. She is patient. She is resilient. She has unconditional love. Oh, and did I mention that she wears a red cape and can make a mean lasagna?
Today's blog is about our amazing, fierce, unstoppable mothers! There is no denying that our mothers deserve (way more than) 24 hours in the year to be celebrated.
The definition of motherhood is more than having a child - it is everything from conception to the end of her time on this earth that encompasses that definition. Motherhood is sleepless nights, it is cradling a sick baby, it is cutting off the crust on a PB&J, kissing the scraped knees...motherhood is the most challenging, rewarding, most self sacrificing thing. Motherhood is nothing short of a miracle.
The women of International Sanctuary play no short part in this role of motherhood. Mary*, a participant from International Sanctuary’s Orange County Professional Opportunities for Survivors of Trafficking (POST) Program shared a few reasons why she loves being a mother of four beautiful children.
“I love when I have been at work all day and when I finally get home, all my kids come running to hug me,” she says. “I live for those moments. Being a mom is not easy but my children are my happiness. Everything I do is for them so they can have a life that I was not able to live. My hopes and dreams for my kids are that they are able to go to a university. The most rewarding thing about being a mom is knowing that my kids love me and need me just as much as I need them.”
I am sure many mothers are reading this blog and can relate to Mary’s love for her children. We all know that being a mom is as rewarding as it is challenging. Here is where you can support more women like Mary by giving your time, talent, donations to iSanctuary or even purchasing Purpose Jewelry (which is fulfilled by iSanctuary’s POST team). Your contribution not only helps our participants, but your contribution has a multi-generational effect. Mary’s success plays a direct part in her children's success.
Someone once shared a beautiful metaphor that encompasses anti-trafficking efforts perfectly. Human trafficking is like a faucet that won’t turn off, all the water falls into a bucket. We are using spoons to try to scoop out water from this bucket, but what we need to do is find a way to turn off the faucet. This Mother’s Day, let us contribute with a collaborative effort to turn off this faucet one step at a time.
*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality
Blog written by Jackie Kong, International Sanctuary Program Coordinator