As Langston Hughes wrote in the poem Mother to Son, “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,” so I feel a certain kinship with the women that we serve at InStepp, Inc. I knew who she was the moment I saw her face. She was beaming as she walked in the door. She walked in an air of hope and perseverance, not at all weighed down by the past’s disappointments and pain but lifted by self-determination to see a better day than yesterday!
This year, InStepp established a partnership with Wheels for Hope, Inc., a non-profit, faith-based car donation program that turns donated cars into local blessings. I represented InStepp’s Board of Directors at a ceremony where she received a much needed car. As the Program Director’s started speaking I suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion. I was overwhelmed because there was a time in my life where I found myself without a car. I was overwhelmed with emotion because I remembered how much I use to worry about how I would figure it all out on public transportation. I was overwhelmed with emotion because I remembered how many people stood in the gap for me when I needed them most. Mostly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and I gave myself permission to celebrate through tears because despite the language barriers, I know her and she knows me.
As we stood under gray skies and umbrellas, I was reminded that rain represents renewal. Watching her excitedly get acclimated to her new wheels renewed my passion for serving women that are “weathering the storm.” If that’s you, and you happen to run across this blogpost, just know that there are great organizations like InStepp and Wheels for Hope whose sole mission is to help and support you. Reach out when and if you need to! Keep going! Keep climbing! We are cheering for you!
Sybil Bowick is Chair of the InStepp Board of Directors.