The Quiet Vocation of Motherhood and God’s Greatest Gift

Danielle Heckenkamp contemplates the quiet servitude of motherhood and how the greatest treasure on earth is in raising souls in virtue.

We know God loves variety. Look at the many types of insects He has created, some more beautiful than others, some more annoying than others, and some more deadly than others. To contemplate creation is only a natural part of a mother’s heart.  

As mothers, we often wonder how we can be everything to this little soul that God has temporarily entrusted to our care. The weight of that task falls heavily on our shoulders, as it seems like we fail day after day through our own limitations. But God has a plan, and His plan is always good, even if we don’t understand it. He uses us as instruments to proclaim His glory, and as mothers, we have an extra special place in the plan of His creation.  

Seeking God’s Glory in Motherhood 

The world shouts from the highest skyscrapers that we must do great things, outlandish things that will make everyone notice. (Maybe this is the impact of social media, or maybe it’s a product of 21st-century thought processes.) But do our achievements really matter if they aren’t performed in accordance with God’s Will and for His Glory? Of course not.  

Nothing in this life is of consequence unless it is for God. However, we can’t limit those actions, thoughts, and words to be regulated only to spiritual works. The vocation of a mother is a great opportunity to lift us closer to Christ’s heart through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Motherhood does not proclaim its achievements from the tops of skyscrapers, and oftentimes, the effects of that vocation are not seen for decades or generations later. It is in the daily faithfulness of motherhood, through small tasks, that we contribute to God’s glory by desiring to raise saints.  

Now, such a lofty goal is difficult to foresee when we are cleaning spilled milk, scrubbing toilets, folding two loads of laundry a day, or driving to and from children’s activities. But every act of a mother, when offered with love to God for the good of her children’s souls, has great merit. We cannot always see the benefit, but when we perform tasks with love, especially for the souls of God’s little ones, we are participating in His greatness.   

Motherhood Is a Vocation 

If motherhood were easy, the world wouldn’t be fighting so hard to belittle it. Motherhood is not an insignificant aspect of this earthly life; it is one of the most important vocations. It is not a job, it is a vocation, because mothers never take a day off. 

 When a child is given to his parents, a crown is made for that child in Heaven, and woe to the parents who raise a child without consciousness of that eternal crown! (Fulton Sheen, Life Is Worth Living)  

Knowing the weight of our role might seem overwhelming, but we also must consider that God does not randomly entrust these souls, but He intentionally chooses those best fit for one’s family. At times, we might be at a loss in understanding our child or knowing the best way to handle a situation. This is when we remember our dependence on God and work every day to personally grow in virtue, which will assist us in raising these little ones into saints. 

It isn’t easy fulfilling our daily tasks, as they oftentimes become monotonous, seem worthless, and without greatness. By accepting our vocation, no matter what it entails, it offers an opportunity to grow closer to God.  

The Daily Practice of Virtue 

As we walk the vocation of motherhood among the distractions of the world, how do we also bring our children to Christ? The answer isn’t outlandish, eccentric, or an achievement that will wow crowds. Instead, it is through the small works of joy, love, and suffering during each day that will slowly and organically assist the souls in our family to reach sanctity.  

The consistency of motherhood rooted in virtue is more rewarding than we realize. Children need stability, but so do adults. Being faithful to our daily tasks as parents is an example of charity seen by our children. It is how we live that shows our love for our children, our spouses, our extended family, our friends, and strangers. By personally growing in sanctity, we have a better understanding of the aspects of raising little souls to become great saints.  

The greatest blessing from God is the opportunity to assist our children along the path of virtue, and such lessons begin in the early stages of childhood. It is through our examples in prayer, penance, fasting, and happily accepting our daily tasks that we will fulfill God’s desire to use us as instruments to assist in leading the souls of our children through the vocation of motherhood to His glory. 

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Copyright 2025 Danielle Heckenkamp
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