I participated in World Hijab Day today because I am a firm believer in the right for each and every woman to express herself, regardless of what faith background she is or is not from, without condemnation. I am a Mennonite (Christian), and am so blessed to have been exposed to many different faith backgrounds over the course of my life. I was blessed with the chance to work in a refugee resettlement program for a little while and worked alongside many amazing Muslim men and women. I will never forget their dedication and their compassion for other people.  It made a huge impact on my life and continues to inspire me towards becoming a better person.

We are all walking along this path, so we may as well hold hands and try to figure it out together.

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This message goes out to Sadia, Rahila and other fantastic Muslim women who encouraged me today:

Thank you for supporting me today, and for telling me I was beautiful as I practiced a level of modesty that is not commonly seen in Christian circles. Thank you for laughing with me as I struggled to wrap my hijab and keep it in place, and grinning at my rogue bangs as they struggled for attention. Thank you for the many words of blessing and thoughtfulness and the likes on my photographs as I attempted to document today’s activities wearing a hijab.

Thank you for being you: your modesty, your passion, your humor, and your bravery. Thank you for being vocal that the hijab is not a symbol of oppression but a symbol of your choice to protect modesty in a culture that devalues it. Thank you for accepting me enough to include me today. It was a privilege to stand with you as a sister. I hope to continue doing so.

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