I work in a place that helps lower income families afford childcare. We meet people who are literally working hard to provide for their families, and overcome life's many obstacles. A lot of the clients I meet are women, and so many of their stories touch my heart. Being that I am a woman, I really feel for some of the women out there, who are no longer with the biological parents of their children. I am not saying women are perfect or anything, (though hey, we are pretty amazing!) But, women will always have the main responsibility of caring for their children and their families.
Sure we are supposed to be the caring and compassionate ones, but since I have come to learn that not all men respect women for the awesome compassionate care givers that we are, sometimes we have to stick up for ourselves and each other.
The each other is the important part in this story. Today my fiancé and I went tanning after work. We are getting ready for the wedding. (Less than 3 months!) On our way out, I thought it might be a good idea to go over to the Christian store a plaza over and see what ceremony programs they had. Our pastor had mentioned that we should stop there and check them out. I was sure my fiancé wouldn't feel up to it, but to my surprise, he agreed!
We went to the Christian store and checked out the programs, but wanted to wait and look at others before we picked ones that we weren't in love with. On our way out to the cars, we heard and saw and couple screaming at one another across the parking lot. Multiple people in the plaza parking lot stopped to stare, but not a single person asked if the woman who crying was alright.
She was holding her face, crying and yelling that the man she was with had just punched her! So may spectators looked as if they were trying to decide if they should step in, but no one did. The man went into the liquor store (I know, like that was going to help the situation) and the woman walked away from him and went out into the parking lot. She was sobbing and talking on the phone. I made the decision that I was going to be the only one who had to have the guts to check on her.
I rolled down my window, pulled up and asked her if she was okay. She was on the phone with her mom, telling her to meet her at the man's house so they could take her child and leave. I was so happy she was getting herself out of the situation, but I was worried about her. She proceeded to tell me the man with her had beat her on multiple occasions, and had just hit her, right there in the parking lot! I so badly just wanted to tell her to get in and take her someone safe, but I knew she had a child she was trying to get home to. I asked her if I could call the police for her, and get an address to where they were going. The man walked out of the store and told her to tell her "friend" goodbye. She hurried and gave me her address and their names, and thanked me for calling the police for her.
I hated that she was getting back in the car with him! I pulled out of the parking lot and pulled over into a new one where I called 911 to tell them what had just happened. If I hadn't had done that, no one else would have. But now, she has back up. Even if it's scary to be brave in those kind of circumstances, someone has to step up. When public situations arise, everyone waits for someone else to make a move. You have to plan ahead of time to be the person to take the first step.
If I had been in her shoes, I would have wanted someone to call for me. So if you pray, say a prayer for her please, that she gets away from that man who thinks it's okay to hurt her, and she has the courage to leave and love herself and child enough to know they deserve better.
I wouldn't have been there had I not randomly decided to go to the Christian store to look at wedding programs.
I honestly believe my current job helped give me the courage to stand up for that woman today. I have a zero tolerance policy for abusive men, and the tough ladies I work with have really helped me be stronger too. I thank them for that if they are reading this! My new job has brought out a protective side of me. I'm so proud to work in a place where the employees really care about what they do; where they
work hard to make a difference in people's lives. I'm lucky in that sense.
Sometimes ladies, we have to help each other out. Be true to yourself, and love one another.
X0X0
Ashlie
