"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Timothy 1:5:
Yesterday was Mothers Day and I caught myself thinking about the awesome responsibility that motherhood brings. Yes it's a great joy and blessing to be a mom, but it's also very difficult.
I remember how much joy it was to watch my young children grow. They were so cute and adorable! It was such fun to interact with them. Every time they would learn something new it would bring such excitement. Being a stay at home mom I was able to spend so much time with them, caring for them, helping them, and teaching them. Every experience was such a blessing. Let's say that the early childhood years were much easier that the years beyond. As they grew older there began to be more challenges.
I always thought that teaching my children right from wrong and good old fashioned Catholic morality would insure that they would never stray off the path. For the most part this was true. However, sometimes children have selective recall and refuse to believe what you try to teach them. They challenge us as teens and as young adults, trying to make us think that we are wrong and they are right. Somehow, all of the years of experience and the lessons that we have learned in life don't count for much. They don't understand that we love them so much that we are trying to help form them for God and help spare them difficulty and heartache. This can make life very stressful and worrisome at times.
Motherhood brings tremendous love and joy, but it also brings worry, fear, and sometimes anger. It is a calling that requires a great deal of patience, even in the most difficult of situations. It also requires a mother to love unconditionally. This doesn't mean that you can't lose it sometimes, or that you can't ever be angry. Quite the contrary actually. Jesus and the Apostles were quick to correct others and exhibited anger toward those that were doing wrong. They did that out of love. That is the same kind of love that a mother must have in order to help guide her children do what is right in the eyes of God and not man.
My children have grown into God loving adults, and I am very proud of them. I wish there was a guidebook that had all of the answers for mothers to follow. I could still use it now, and it would make motherhood easier for my three daughters. Until then, I will continue to rely on the teachings of the Bible and the Catechism. I will also continue to instill in my children the importance of staying true to our Catholic faith and tradition.
Motherhood is an awesome calling. It requires a great deal of love, prayers, and patience. It also requires teaching and correction. I have prayed to so much for my children and always will. I know that my responsibility as a Christian mother requires me to continue to guide my children even as adults. They may still choose to have selective hearing and I can't do much about that, but I will always continue to pray for them.
