From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 485):
Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and let them not rejoice over me!
Psalm 35:23-24
Ukraine will resist! That’s something that we kept telling everyone on the eve of the full-scale war. And that’s something we have kept repeating over the past 16 months. Our social media is overflowing with memes and jokes regarding the possible nuclear strike because humor keeps us going, and we know that nothing will make us give up!
Libraries, schools, community centers, and individual homes turn into volunteer hubs that make masking nets, trench candles, bake goods for the front lines, or do something to boost the morale of our defenders.
Today, I dropped my son off at the local library, and he spontaneously joined the group around the table that was making wristbands in the colors of Ukrainian flags for our soldiers. At another table, you could make a card, or the kids could draw something for our heroes. These heartwarming gifts are sent weekly to the frontline.
While my son was in the library, I ran some errands, and my eye caught an announcement hand-written on a piece of paper and taped to a tree. It looked like a child wrote it, so I stopped to read it. It said, “I am 10 years old. If you have a broken toy, stop by my repair shop. I am raising funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” It included contact details and prices (the highest one being about a quarter of a dollar) and ended with “I am from Ukraine.”
We are ready to resist in any form we can because too much is at stake.
Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Psalm 35:26-28
Voice of Ukraine 