Tides are not harmful, but other situations are
Helping alleviate the fears of those less fortunate than ourselves and help them move towards a better life.
“HELP ME. where has it gone? It has disappeared, oh come and tell me who has taken the ocean?”
These were the words of a friend of mine who came originally from central Africa and who had travelled to Greece to avoid persecution. She then finally came to England and was taken for a short break to Blackpool.
She arrived there and saw the sea lapping around the promenade. It was some hours later that she returned to the same spot and saw that the sea had disappeared. She knew nothing about tidal waters and that the sea would return over a period of time. Truly terrifying, but harmless.
The Mediterranean around Greece is not a tidal sea unlike the Irish Sea coast bordering onto Lancashire. She was not prepared for this shock.
What has frightened you the most? The Mothers’
Union (MU) is one of many organisations which reaches out to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Tides are not harmful but other situations are.
I read about a young girl called Sarah who saw her father murder her mother in violence and rage. From that point on she not only lost her mother but her childhood. As the only girl in the family, she became responsible for looking after her brothers.
She has now received support and kindness from the MU. The organisation, amongst many other initiatives, develops parenting groups and post-trauma therapy called body mapping.
In South Africa, Kenya and Uganda the MU have plans, which need funding, to empower survivors of genderbased violence - or women at risk - to heal and support others. The survivors work successfully for change in their communities, to become community advocates and to support activities that challenge domestic abuse and achieve long term change.
MU Members total over 4m in over 84 countries and they work tirelessly to serve their communities whilst offering Christian care for families, regardless of faith or background.
A little while ago when the Taliban were moving towards Kabul fearful Afghans managed to get airlifted and taken to safe countries. Imagine leaving every where you know and with no possessions save what you stand up in. One woman gave birth during the journey to England. They had nothing with them. A plea went out to the whole community via the Mothers’ Union for toys, children and adult clothes and especially children’s coats.
The response was amazing, from across all communities and from those who wanted to help these refugees in some way.
On November 27 members and friends of the Mothers’ Union are coming together across Britain and Ireland and around the world to hold a three-minute silence at 1.03pm. This is a Global
Day of Action and is centred around the disturbing figure that “1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced domestic or sexual abuse”. The MU believes this to be unacceptable.
When you next see the tide go out, and then return, think about my friend and her fears, and wonder how you can help alleviate the fears of those less fortunate than ourselves and help them move towards a better life.
Go to https://www. mothersunion.org/ to learn more about this world-wide movement or email me juliatum@outlook.com for more information about your local branch in Rastrick.