Salute to Grandmothers

In honor of International Women's Day (March 8), Lati Makara Lets'ela, the World Forum's National Representative from Lesotho, offered this story:

Everyday I hurriedly drive to work.

Everyday I pass through a village.

And everyday I see this lovely 2-year-old little girl wearing her neat school uniform.

One day I slowed down and greeted her with a smile, she smiled back.

Her grandmother smiled back and accepted a greeting on her behalf.

Now I don't change [my] route to work; I use the same one.
Everyday I see this young girl I slow down, open the window, and greet her with a smile; she smiles back.

And the Granny smiles and accepts the greeting on her behalf.
This morning, I met these two again; I slowed down, opened the window, and greeted with a smile.

The little girl stopped, smiled showing her little white teeth, waived her left hand, and accepted my greeting.

Her grandmother cried through her smile.

I parked the car off the road to find out what I did wrong.
She said to me in Sesotho " Ngoana'ka, ke maketse hore ngoana enoa oa ngoana'ka o tseba ho bua! Haesale 'M'ae a hlokahala, ha a so bue!"

(Translated: "My child, I am amazed to see my grandchild talking! Since her mother's death, she has not spoken again.")

They both touched my heart.... I then advised that the child be referred to a psychotherapist and I provided other pieces of advice...

Let's celebrate women's efforts in making the world a better place for young children. This one child is among thousands who have lost mothers for various reasons in Lesotho, and among millions in the whole world. Please remember grandmothers who are forced by circumstances to take care of their grandchildren. Pray for their renewed strength so that they are able to take care of young children we all so care about, like this grandmother who takes her grandchild by the hand to school, while holding a walking stick by the other hand to assist herself to walk....

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