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On this eve of Mother’s Day, there may not be anything that illustrates so accurately what it means to be a mother as the number of times I tried to set aside time to write this article. Despite my many attempts and the swirling of motherhood musings that filled my mind, there was always someone or something that required my attention. Such need is both empowering and exhausting, endowing you with tremendous purpose and the deepest sense of love, the kind of love that makes your heart feel as though it might burst with pride and joy, but also, at times, with frustration, anxiety, and utter exhaustion.

Motherhood is full of excitement, adventure, and moments that you wish you could freeze and hold forever in your memory. It is as good and beautiful as a vocation can be. But motherhood is also, in its very essence, a life of triage. A life where every moment of every day includes decisions as to what task should be completed, what problems need to be solved, and what outpouring of love you are called to next. The work of this vocation is so giant because it encompasses the needs of all those entrusted to your care, from the most basic human necessities to the most profound formation of heart and mind. Motherhood is the business of cultivation. Whether the work is done in preparing meals, arranging schedules, or making yourself emotionally and physically present – the call of motherhood is one of service and the endless pursuit of sanctification.

From the moment our call to motherhood is realized, our hearts beat in a new and profound way. The weight of vocational love rests on our chests and we continue to run our own race to heaven, but now with the weight of all those we want to join us there. Now, not only do we strive to be the best version of our own selves, but we are committed to giving our children that same desire, perseverance, and love. We take on the task of bringing up a generation of Christians who seek truth and beauty in all things, whose lives are rightly ordered, and whose hearts are set on heaven.

But such a lofty mission cannot come without strife. No element of the Christian life does. At the onset of this task, we, the mothers, are still works in progress. We know the destination, but we have not yet achieved it. God uses our vocation for our own sanctification, and the only right response is love. Everything from the mundane tasks of the home to the intricate scheduling of activities and appointments, to the handling of our children’s God given temperament, have the ability to bring us closer to heaven if we do them in love.

St. Therese of Lisieux spoke of this kind of vocational love that leads to sanctification.

“If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn’t lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT’S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE – IT’S ETERNAL!” (CCC 826)

There isn’t a mother I know that isn’t always running a mile a minute, constantly discerning the best use of time and resources to best serve the people they love most. It’s the most unifying thing about motherhood; that even when our methods or priorities vary, we are all familiar with the deep sense of purpose and desire to do well at this huge job we’ve been given. No matter our worldview or status, we have all been in the mountains and valleys of mothering, we’ve all beamed with pride, and we’ve all been brought to our knees.

Mothering takes perseverance and grit, it requires we continue to get up and do what needs to be done for the good of the kingdom. As St. Paul writes,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

So, on this Mother’s Day allow yourself to be sanctified. Keep running the race, keep giving all that you can, keep loving with that deep vocational love, keep serving and keep pulling the souls of your children toward heaven with all the strength you can muster.