By: Chaunte McClure

When I learned of the opportunity to write for Lexington Medical Center’s Every Woman Blog, I remember thinking, this will be a great platform to encourage and inspire women. Over the past year and a half, I’ve tried to do just that. Not every post has been inspirational, and that was intentional, because I believe we should make room for fun, laughter and practicality.

It is my desire to make a difference in the lives of others – women, men, boys and girls. However, there is a special place in my heart for women and girls, and particularly those who have an unavailable, unattached or absent father.

I believe any unpleasant experience we have in life should be used for good. When you grow and heal, those negative experiences should help others do the same.

After a recent experience, I was reminded of a moment in my childhood when I asked myself, “Why didn’t mama abort me?” This was during a time in my life when I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t understand why I existed. And an obvious observation from that question: I wished I hadn’t existed.

That was then. I thank God for wisdom and maturity because along the way I’ve developed an understanding that I have a purpose. I’m no longer trapped inside the mind of a confused little girl trying to understand why I live. Now I just want to live freely and share the story that for most of my life I was ashamed of because I realize there are so many other women who are living with shame and there’s a broken little girl still trapped inside her.

In a sermon on Sunday, I heard a young minister say, “Broken crayons still color, broken people are still blessed.” I want to encourage fatherless little girls that broken crayons still color and I want to encourage fragile, fatherless women that broken people are still blessed. Better yet, I want them to know that God can mend them, but it’s a journey.

For more than 20 years I was broken and it wasn’t until I was in my early twenties when I recognized that all the anger, rebellion, bitterness and sadness inside of me stemmed from my fatherless experience. It was when I was about 27 that I decided that I was ready to put it all behind me.

There are women in their forties, fifties and sixties – and maybe even older – who have yet to recognize why they do some of the things they do and say some of the things they say. I want to begin the journey of love, acceptance and forgiveness with them.

Now I can answer that little girl’s question: Why didn’t mama abort me? I can’t speak for my mama, but I understand that I’m vessel God is using to reach generations of broken people.

One of the ways I want to inspire others is through a personal blog for fatherless daughters. I’ve been toiling for months trying to decide what to call this blog. I’d love your help with coming up with a name for it. Will you? I have a short list of ideas, but maybe your creativity runs deeper than mine. Remember, it’s for young ladies and women, and it will be a place for healing, nurturing and restoration. Leave me a comment with your suggestion.

Oh, and I’ll still remain an Every Woman blogger 🙂