Warrior Women

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. Mark 7:24-37

Warrior Women

Gentle is the morning gathering wood
and sweet the grass on the hill songs
and laughter from the babies, giggles from the girls
we are fierce in our loving, tender in our ways
and we live to fight for the children.

She takes on her back the weight of the world
takes to her heart the elders needs cooking
and caring, lifting and mending
praying through the day praying through the night.

We are mother bears when our child is sick
troubled or tortured, we would argue
with God, Jesus and school authorities
to relieve the demons of our child's strife.

We are not assertive and never alone
carrying our responsibilities like a daily blessing
a gift from the Creator, a sign of our belonging
our burden, our gifts one and the same.

We are fiercely faithful, constant and strong
sitting in kitchens and at desks laughing
with the little ones, stirring the stew,
airing the bedding, planting and replanting
helping God to make all things new.