Love one another

Substance use is at the heart of many stories told by the women in All Our Sisters. For some, life at home became too difficult due to the substance misuse of a parent or a loved one. For others, the substance use of their pregnant mother may have lead to a life of mental impairment, making it hard to cope with situations many of us take for granted. Yet for other women their own addiction, a physical and chemical need for substances, may have lead to the loss of home and family.

No one comes into the world or wakes up one morning and plans to become addicted. No one leaves their current surroundings with the plan of living life on the street. No woman gives birth in hopes of having her children torn from her life because a person in authority deems that she in unfit.

The homeless are people. People with dreams and with plans for a better life. They are people who need to be viewed as equals in our eyes just as they are equals in God’s eyes.

The stories told in All Our Sisters point to a need for all of society to view homelessness as an opportunity to help others in this earthly journey. We have been instructed by Jesus Christ to “love one another”. We are each gifted by God in ways that can offer support to the homeless. We have been given a great love by our God to share with others.

Visit a soup kitchen, offer to help or simply take time to sit and listen to the stories of the homeless. By sharing your time or volunteering your talents you can be a living example of God’s love in this world. You can make a difference in someone’s life.