In Honor Of Ukranian Refugee Moms
**Original post written March 2019 (To see original post and images click HERE )
This post is dedicated to “H” and “H”, my two favorite single-mom refugees in all the world. You’ve been an inspiration to me since the first day we met and you will forever be the strongest women I know. I can't see the images of Ukraine refugee moms without thinking of the two of you and the sacrifices you each made for your children. Love, Alysa
************
I sit here in the warmth of my Chicago living room,
on a chilly March morn,
in the year ’22.
The sky?
Blue.
The sun?
Streaming.
Both leaving warmth and hope in its wake.
I'm longing for Spring.
My heated blanket is on high,
the foot rest is out,
and I type.
In leisure.
In safety.
In plenty.
Far from danger.
Far from loss.
Far from war.
Recent Instagram images surrounding the
War in Ukraine
haunt me.
***
The images of the mom.
The mom wrapping her middle-school son in the tightest of hugs.
Apparently finding one another after separation in a crowd.
One fear
–the fear of losing a child in a crowd–
melting away.
Another fear
–their current reality of fleeing for safety–
resurrected in its place.
***
The images of the crowds –en masse– walking away.
Away from home.
Away from normal life.
Away from family.
Moms cradling their babies
while walking hand in hand with their toddlers.
Children holding puppies, bags, and baby dolls.
The loss?
Devastating.
The evidence of war?
Comprehensive.
Uncertainty is in the air.
***
The images of strollers left at Polish train stations.
By Polish moms.
The next country over.
Moms just knowing what other moms might need.
Knowing how helpful a stroller would be to
Ukrainian moms in the ravages of war.
I'm a photographer,
so as you might imagine,
images move me.
I've been closely following
photojournalists on the ground in Ukraine
to get a true sense of what is happening.
Many pictures have impacted me the past two weeks.
But that picture?
Of the strollers?
Undid me.
Tears flowed.
The strollers?
A symbol of universal connection.
Moms the world over
simply want kids the world over
to be safe.
To flourish.
And we want to help other moms in need.
It's how we were designed.
By God.
So when I saw those strollers lined up at the train station,
I saw the goodness of God
flowing through the goodness of Polish moms
with nothing to gain
but knowing they did the right thing.
They helped.
How they could.
In their own way.
The gift of a stroller.
As moms, we understand.
Even if we’ve never experienced
the loss or devastation or fear.
We just know.
Deep, deep, down.
That photo made perfect sense to me.
My heart?
It beats in solidarity with refugee moms.
And has for many, many years.
Refugee moms possess incomprehensible strength and resilience.
They face trials with perseverance.
They have a strength that rises from the ashes of war and trauma.
They sacrifice all for the hopes and future of their babies.
This week,
as Women’s International Day has come and gone,
I say,
without a doubt,
that women refugees of this world are heroes.
And right now,
our hearts are with
Ukrainian mothers.
They set the bar high and
their example of bravery
is one for all to stop and notice.
***
May you and I each show kindness, mercy and love to
the refugees that cross our paths.
May you and I welcome as we would want to be welcomed.
May you and I listen to their stories and learn from their experiences.
***
A refugee mother’s love.
Extravagant.
Beautiful.
Fierce.
***
To the mothers of Ukraine.
I see you.
I pray for you.
I long for peace and restoration to happen
swiftly in your country.
May God’s tender love and compassion rest on your hearts today.
