THE COURAGE OF KANDAHAR
- Anonymous
She sits in her home and thinks how easy it would be to stay.
Remain in the kitchen, do her chores, and no one will know she is there.
Dead. Even though she is breathing.
But that is not this woman’s destiny.
This woman will be more.
This woman will be educated.
This woman will be whatever she chooses to be.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
She wraps herself in cloth.
She hides her identity, but she is not anonymous,
For God knows her name.
He knows her thoughts, her dreams, her fears, and her determination.
He watches her strength and service to Him and is pleased.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
Despite her inner fear and uncertainty she walks out her door.
Step. Step.
She does not know what lies ahead of her on her walk to school, but this woman will not be denied.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
Neighbors that are supposed to be friends hurl verbal abuse at her.
She is not deterred.
They are bewildered because their words do not turn her back.
She is too strong.
They are surprised by her poise and the authority in her walk.
They do not know how to respond to her defiance, so they give more rage
Because it’s the only thing they know.
But inside they wish they could be like her.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
Closer now to her destination.
But never close enough.
She wishes her walk would end, but she pushes on.
She hears the motor vehicles as they pass and wonders,
“Which of these are going on about their business,
And which of these may bring pain or death to me?”
Step. Step.
Aware of her surroundings, but focused on higher things,
She pushes on.
She will not stop.
Her destiny is not to serve as a beast of burden, or another person’s possession.
Her destiny is to serve by leading humanity.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
She arrives.
At the place of opportunity.
At the place of peace.
At the place where she is surrounded by others who bear the scars.
She is with those who recognize her strength.
Recognize her potential.
Recognize her for who she is.
For she is not anonymous.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
A nation grows.
Trying to heal itself of the cancer within.
Good is more powerful than evil, but does it have more endurance?
As this child goes, so goes Afghanistan.
Is she suppressed and oppressed? So will be the nation.
Is she nurtured, educated and equipped? So will be the nation.
They are one. They are the same.
If she fulfills her destiny, becoming what she chooses,
So too will her nation sit at the global table with sister nations,
As an equal.
As something to be cherished, respected, and loved.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
She is the Future of Afghanistan.
Class ends and the sun hangs low.
It is time to go.
She wraps herself in cloth.
She hides her identity, but she is not anonymous,
For God knows her name.
She is the Courage of Kandahar.
Step. Step.
It begins all over again.
Good is more powerful than evil, but does it have more endurance?