On International Day of the Girl Child, I think about a little girl I used to know. She was the daughter I imagined I would have.
I said goodbye to that girl on a cold, February afternoon, in an ultrasound lab in downtown Toronto. I learned that the child growing inside me was my second, beautiful son. I would never have a daughter.
Parenting boys has been more wonderful than I ever could have imagined. I've learned that I grossly underestimated the depth and sensitivity that's possible in any human being -- regardless of gender. I wouldn't change anything.
But I will always have a sacred place in my heart for girls. My heart will always break when I see a girl exploited or undervalued, just because she's female. Or leap with joy when she has a chance to realize her full potential. I lose sleep when she's not safe and cared for, and am constantly searching for ways to make it better.
So in many ways, I have daughters all over the world. And in my travels with World Vision, I've learned that there are many ways to play a special role in the life of a girl child. I've seen how your gifts to girls everywhere can make a difference in their lives.
On the International Day of the Girl Child, here are some of the things I would love to tell every girl in the world, if I could.
- "You were born a girl. You were born special." The daughter I imagined always had a clear sense of her identity. I think of her when I see girls like Anny in Jordan, a proud member of her school soccer team. "It keeps me healthy, and I get to practice my skills and become a better player," she says.
As you think of the world's girls today, think about what you might like to say to them. You may never meet children like the ones I've described, not in person anyway. But there are so many ways to send your love. Visiting a web site like worldvision.ca is a great start.
All photos by World Vision.
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