Time for celebrating women — and not just the famous ones

March is Women's History Month. During this month special emphasis is given to women's achievements in history, politics and economics. Since the Chinese proverb proclaims that women hold up half the sky, it is fitting to have at least one month where women's accomplishments are highlighted.

I am in awe of women who have larger-than-life personalities like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Venus and Serena Williams. These successful women serve as role models on a global stage. It is no surprise that today's successful women have brains and beauty.

Girls see these legends and stand a bit taller. Dreams and career options expand when youngsters witness others who have made it.

When we see women defy the odds and achieve great accomplishments, we are inspired to believe in ourselves and our God-given gifts.

While superstars inspire us, for me it is the women in my life that keep me grounded and encouraged. The not-so-famous single moms who juggle job, children and community service are true heroes. Older women, who claim healing despite dwindling dollars available for medications, deserve to be recognized too.

And certainly dear to my heart are women of faith who claimed their calls despite misguided men who told them God does not call women into ministry.

Hard to believe that in the 21st century, some religions do not believe women and men are equal in God's eyes. My Bible tells me that both men and women are created in God's image. Christian traditions such as the Catholic Church and some conservative Baptist churches do not allow women to serve as pastors, priests or elders. It is ironic that our money is always welcome but our leadership is not.

During Women's History Month we lift up successful women, but let us not forget those marginalized women who fell through our social-safety nets. Women who are homeless, battered, incarcerated and poor are part of our history too. They deserve to be remembered this month. God has a way of using women who have been cast aside.

In Christian scriptures, Rahab, a prostitute, is listed in Jesus' genealogy. One would hardly consider a prostitute an important biblical figure worth remembering. But God sees otherwise. In the Hebrew Bible, Moses would not have led his people out of oppression if it were not for the midwives Shiphrah and Puah who saved his life.

None of us are throwaways. God uses the least, the last, the lost and the locked up. Women's history must include all of us, not just the winners. History is not just about our successes but about our struggles and failures. When we learn our history, we do not have to repeat our failures. We can learn from them.

When tradition and culture dictate what women cannot do, God puts fire in a few hearts that compels women to do otherwise. During Women's History Month, we remember women who dared to live outside the box. Some went against family norms and went to law or medical schools; other went into nontraditional fields for women and became astronauts, surgeons and welders. And some women went against religious rules and started their own churches and ministries.

Moving to the beat of a different drummer has its risks. When a woman goes against tradition she may be ostracized from family, religious community or deemed to have lost her mind. But she can have peace of mind by following the call of a higher power. And, as the saying goes, well-behaved women rarely make history.

So let us boldly claim our history — the good and the bad. Let us revere women superstars and our neighbors who are just trying to make it. We must continue to support and encourage one another. And yes, we are our sister's keeper.

The Rev. Patricia L. Hunter is an associate in ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church and senior benefits consultant for American Baptist Churches in the USA. Readers may send feedback to faithcolumns@seattletimes.com