Eucharistic Motherhood: Living Life on the Edge

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Living Life on the Edge

As much as it seems like I living a traditional, safe, conservative life, I really feel like I am living life on the edge.
Being married to Ron--I staked my whole future on one reading of a newspaper, realizing that I wanted to enjoy the events listed therein with him (we had been on 2 dates) rather than a boyfriend of many years!
Giving up so many opportunities of personal fulfillment or ambition or creativity, instead giving my best to the emotional, spiritual, educational and psychological development of my kids--and betting that this choice IS the path of greater fulfillment and ambition!
Living in a humble house in a humble town--and betting that it is the best way to have a great home!
Of all the courses I could teach, books I could write, the public person I could be and accomplishments that I might be able to achieve--I believe that giving all my creativity to mercy and love of real people is the greatest "creative achievement" I could pursue. But who knows! It takes faith, as there is no proof that this is the best way!

Everything about my life feels like a radical experiment. I know I look boring, uneventful, and the least daring that a life could be. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I am living life on the edge.

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About Me

Born in Texas, raised in NYC, I earned my Ph.D. in philosophy and married a gorgeous theology student who rides a motorcycle and looks like James Dean. We now have six kids, are based in Irving near the University of Dallas where my husband teaches theology and where I sometimes teach philosophy. We currently live in the Castelli Romani, just outside of Rome, Italy. In addition to teaching some semesters and raising our 6 wonderful children, I am studying theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Passionate about the vocation of motherhood, I founded a Catholic mother's ministry, Mighty Is Her Call. Our retreats and blog can be explored here: https://mightyishercall.com.

My book, Motherhood: An Extraordinary Vocation was released August 2021.

What's Special about Motherhood?

Motherhood is patterned on the life of Christ, particularly the Eucharist, in a way that no other vocation is. Some mothers shed blood for their children in childbirth--just as Christ shed his blood for us, a gift we celebrate in the Eucharist. Some mothers nourish children with their own bodies--just as Christ nourishes us with his body in the Eucharist. Mothers give themselves up in countless ways for their children--just as Christ gave himself up for us: "This is my body, given up for you." Every aspect of our day, from feeding our children, to cleaning up their messes, to disciplining them, to listening attentively to them, to hugging them, to laughing with them, to cherishing them, reflects the ways Christ gives himself to us. Motherhood is a role fashioned in the image of Christ, more so than perhaps any other vocation. It is singularly close to and reflective of the Heart of Christ.