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Do you remember when you were discerning your vocation for your life? The season of discernment is a little like Jesus asking Peter to “Come” and walk on the water. He reaches out His hands toward you and beckons you to step out into the unknown. As you gaze at your Savior, you realize part of you wants to stand up, get out of the boat, and walk toward Him. The other part of you is just enjoying the boat ride. It takes a leap of faith to go where you have never gone before.
One thing is essential when discerning a vocation: keeping your eyes on Jesus. After all, look what happened to Peter. He only sank when he took his eyes off of Jesus. Hopefully, during your season of discerning a vocation, you did not drown. If you had, Jesus would have walked on the water to save you and carry you to safety.
How do you choose your vocation? Did your parents foster vocations in the home? As you might have guessed, my vocation is matrimony. Most importantly, I am who I am by the grace of God.
It wasn’t my first choice to be married with children. It was God’s all along. At seven years old, when I walked forth to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ on my first Communion day, I became Jesus’ Bride. I was sure my vocation would be a nun. I was wrong. Even though I was determined to surrender my entire life to Jesus, I was later to discover that this could be lived out in every vocation.
In high school, I took a test that was to guide my decision -- a little whisper from God, so I thought. What would I be when I grew up? The results showed a Mother Superior! Hindsight revealed that the test was not all wrong. In my own words, I became a “Superior Mother.” I put my whole heart into my vocation, and I have attempted to live it to the fullest by God’s grace. I do have my days when I cry out to God with despair, “Mary chose the better portion -- why am I not a nun?” Deep in my soul, the Holy Spirit assures me that marriage and motherhood totally fit me. In reality, I would have been a very lonely, and not to mention, a wordy Carmelite nun. I thank God for choosing my vocation. God knows me better than I know myself.
If you take time to discern before you choose your vocation, you will not look back, nor second-guess your choice. However, you may have some days when you picture yourself in a habit praying before the Blessed Sacrament all day and treasuring the silence. When your daydream ceases, and you return to real life as a mother and wife, you are overcome with joy. You think to yourself, “My Heavenly Father was right.” You find the children and hug each of them twice. Then you cook your hubby’s favorite meal for dinner and greet him with a kiss that lets him know how grateful you are to be his wife. With a tear in your eye, you thank Jesus for your vocation. You are confident that the love you have for your family will last a lifetime. It is the gift God sowed in your heart.
Moms, your vocation as wives and mothers is just as important as being a nun, or a man being a priest or deacon, or being single for the Lord. Embrace the calling of God on your life by joyfully going forth to form the next generation in the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic faith. Live your vocation with all your heart through His grace, and never look back!
Copyright 2019 Ellen Mongan
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