Pastor Devotions – Silent victims

By Rev. Debra Jene Collum

Chatfield United Methodist

Here in Chatfield the Commercial Club is lifting up the many women owned businesses during Women’s History Month. There are many, many women-owned businesses in our entire area including in our faith communities. Women leadership in our small towns is very valuable and very necessary.

In the Christian Scriptures, women are equally important in the life of Jesus and of the early church. Take, for example, the story of Mary and Martha’s relationship with Jesus. Jesus often visited their home to find hospitality, rest and encouragement. He loved them so much that when their brother died, he was willing to change his plans to bring Lazarus back to life.

Women were also the hosts for many of the early home-based church. Paul mentions 10 women whom he is grateful to in his closing of the book of Romans. Unlike our often, mistaken notion, professional women were extremely important to the early church. Just as they are important to our communities today.

Yet, this pandemic has taken its toll on the women in our communities. Did you know that millions of women left or lost their jobs in 2020? In December alone, according to the Census Bureau, women lost 156,000 jobs overall while men gained 16,000; meaning women accounted for the entire net national loss of 140,000 jobs. And it is not just jobs that have set women back. It is also the lack of child care in our communities. In July the Washington Post cited that “Coronavirus child-care crisis will set women back a generation.”

Just when it felt like women were moving forward in the job market and gaining ground politically, this virus has set women back. Why? Because women are disproportionally employed in jobs that can be done remotely, many have been forced home to do their job while at the same time taking care of the complex needs of their children. Or they are working in jobs that require stable child care that was simply not available. And then add to all of this, the fact that most of the home-schooling responsibilities are being left in the hands of mothers who are also trying to do a full-time job at home. Is it any wonder that statistically, women are the silent victims of the virus?

Career, housework, child care, homeschooling… Often, not knowing what model of learning their children will part of until just a few days before. Hybrid? In-person? Completely virtual? No school on Wednesday? This week or next? It can be overwhelming just thinking about it. Now try to actually do it and do it well.

As people of our extraordinary communities that are led by women, let us encourage the women in our lives. Pray for them. Thank God for them. Do something kind for them. They are raising the next generation of human beings who will manage another global crisis. They are some of the most important people in our communities. And they are extremely important to God.