Mar 8 is Women’s Day here in Ukraine. Generally it inspires romance and celebration of women. Interesting picture, right?
Some days I just think to myself – “I’ve brought my family to a nation at war!” Have you ever thought that? It’s a first for me, but maybe you’ve seen some tough times. I haven’t. I grew up in Canada. Went a great school where the craziest things I experienced was hurting myself on the monkey bars and an occasional bully on the playground, and someone stole my bike a few times. I suppose some neighbourhoods are worse than others and some people might face really dangerous experiences at home or school.
But I have brought my family to a country at war. It’s true, its 8 hours east and fairly unlikely to come here. And we are foreigners so we can always run if something happens, unlike our friends here. But we did just get a house built – we obviously are pretty intent on sticking it out here. So why? Why would I ever walk down this road? Is this my best life now?
No. And Yes. Why did all those veterans go fight in a war in Europe? I could never figure it out. Actually, I still can’t quite figure it out – but I know that it has something to do with caring. They cared, maybe about family still in Europe, maybe about brothers who were already fighting, maybe about stopping evil. Maybe I do to, even though I feel pretty ordinary, pretty unbrave. Maybe I care more than I think. God must have taught me that – to care unselfishly, joyfully, relentlessly. I’m not quite like him yet, but he’s shaping me, slowly and surely, to care like he does.
