Standing for Children

About 10 years ago now, Marian Wright Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund organized a “Stand for Children” event in Washington, DC. I joined thousands who made the trek there and stood with them in the great reflection pool area at the base of the Lincoln Monument. We heard many speakers who resonated with the same message. We can make a difference. We already have within our reach the will and the resources. All children need us to do whatever we can so that no child will be left behind. You can read her powerful speech at http://gos.sbc.edu/e/edelman.html

Now a new effort is afoot. Sharon Mehdi, the author of The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering, wrote a wonderful little story about the simple power of taking a stand. You can go to the website below to see for yourself. But the main idea is that a grandmother stood quietly for children. And soon others asked what she was doing and joined in, standing with her. Their stand became a significant message. Some who have read that story are taking it beyond the pages of a book. This Mother’s Day at 1pm throughout the world women and men will be stopping for a few minutes to quietly stand for the children and grandchildren of the world, those who are here now and for the next seven generations.

I encourage you to do the same, too, wherever you are. And if people ask what you are doing you can say, “I am standing for our children and their future.”


We are standing for the world's children and grandchildren,
and for the seven generations beyond them.

We dream of a world where all of our children have
safe drinking water, clean air to breathe, and enough food to eat.

A world where they have access to a basic education
to develop their minds and health care to nurture their growing bodies.

A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home.
A world where they don't live in fear of violence -
in their home, in their neighborhood, in their school or in their world.

This is the world of which we dream.

This is the cause for which we stand.

http://www.standingwomen.org