Pixabay (2018), CC0 Public Domain[/caption]
As a Catholic mother, I do not want to die only to discover I was playing society's ever-changing games. Not every woman is called to be a mother but if we are mothers, we cannot allow current trends to impinge on our first vocation. I am not implying everyone has to be a stay-at-home mother but every mother must guard against becoming so caught up in work, business, entertainment, crafts, or even writing for Catholic sites that they lose sight of their basic call.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)Raising children is not a default chore for women who were not successful in the world of business, power, and wealth. However, the trend in the last few decades has been to delegate childcare to women who are often treated like second-class citizens. Society seems to dismiss and even ridicule women’s most sacred, natural role as nurturing mothers. I fully realize most mothers have no choice but to work in our present economy. My contention is with prevailing negative attitudes about mothers and large families. Sadly, young mothers are dealing with the same issues I did thirty-eight years ago. The role of a mother still seems to clash with concepts of feminism. Most feminists believe the only way to achieve a sense of accomplishment is to succeed in a career, free from the constraints of pregnancy and childcare. Yet all Christians are called to love first, not to become so successful and busy they have no time to love.
We Are Called to Love First and Foremost
How devastating it would be to stand before Christ and realize I had lost my way and become distracted by ambition, distractions, and the pursuit of pleasure.Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)I can be His hands and feet and ears and the whisper the words of the Father to my kids, children who are ultimately HIS little ones.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Transformed
Thankfully Christ has the power to transform me because I cannot function like Jesus on my own, in my own strength. Period.This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15: 12-14)Let's flood our mind's mind with Holy Scripture.
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter: 4:8)Let's remind ourselves everything turns to ash when we die, everything but Love.
O give thanks to the God of heaven,for his steadfast love endures for ever. (Psalm 136: 26)
Live in the Truth
In fact, to live in the Truth, I choose to allow my ego to die, my selfish wants to embrace my new identity which is hidden in Christ. This is the path to discover real, deep joy and fulfillment. Living in reality is much more fulfilling than playing games during my short time on earth.Copyright 2018 Melanie Jean Juneau
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