I used to hurt so badly that I’d ask God why, what have I done to deserve any of this? I feel now He was preparing me for this, for the future. That’s the way I see it.

We all want to avoid suffering, but we also want to avoid the indignity of being treated as if we have no say.

With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat in unwomanly rags
Plying her needle and thread—
Stitch! stitch! stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt.