Leadership and Resilience: A Mother’s Journey in Lebanon
(Photo: SAT-7)
As Mother’s Day approaches in Lebanon, many families are confronting new uncertainties amid ongoing regional conflicts. While preparing for a team meeting, Marianne Awaraji, a Christian leader in Lebanon, found herself juggling leadership responsibilities and ensuring her son’s safety.
Women leading teams and organizations in Lebanon often carry an invisible burden, balancing leadership with the pressing realities of daily life. In recent months, intensified conflicts have led to the displacement of nearly 700,000 people, including 200,000 children. Many families are finding refuge with relatives, in churches, or schools, underscoring the fragility of life in the region.
A mother from southern Lebanon, forced to abandon her home, poignantly expressed, “The hardest thing is leaving, not knowing what to take or if you will ever return.” This sentiment of shared hardship resonates deeply among mothers in the region, reflecting a universal solidarity.
Despite these challenges, life goes on. Leaders continue to make decisions and support their teams, but the constant question remains: “Are we safe?” In such environments, leadership transcends authority; it becomes about presence and courage.
Leading in adversity fosters resilience, a quality that helps leaders push forward despite facing significant obstacles. Mothers who lead juggle the demands of their professional roles with the nurturing responsibilities at home. They become the first theologians their children encounter, teaching them through their responses to uncertainty.
Marianne holds onto her Christian faith, emphasizing that leadership is not sustained by individual strength alone. She draws comfort from a biblical reminder: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
In challenging times, leadership is an act of trust—trust in the significance of their work, the strength of hope over fear, and the presence of God in unstable moments. A Lebanese believer aptly noted, “Without having faith and hope, we would have been lost long ago.”
A mother in Iran shared, “I have invested my strength and years into building our home,” holding onto hope and prayer despite the circumstances.
This Mother’s Day is a testament to mothers leading teams, households, or simply navigating life’s trials. Their resilience and ability to inspire hope in their children and colleagues is a profound act of faith.
Marianne Awaraji, serving as Audience Relations Manager and presenter with SAT-7 ARABIC, continues to speak on faith, leadership, and resilience within the Middle Eastern context.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
