A quote that radically changed my life is by St. John of the Cross, whose feast day we celebrate today:
"In the eve of life, we will be judged on love."
When we really believe this message, everything changes! You give up all sorts of external goals and start spending time with the people whom you love and those who want to be loved by you. We might stop and think: Who desires my love? Who is craving being loved by me? Children crave their parent's love. Siblings crave the love and approval of their siblings. Aunts and uncles, cousins, close friends, grandchildren. . . the deep craving for love is essential to the human condition. What if we really gave our best selves, the first fruits of our energy and attention, to these relationships?
Imagine a world in which everyone stropped pursuing dreams about fame, fortune, achievements, reputation, etc., and prioritized as their absolute, number-one, essential, non-negotiable goal, that they love well and with the highest quality those closest to them, those whom their birthed, those whom they will bury, those whom they marry, those whom they accompany through life. What a different world it would be, a civilization of love.
This is what I believe, and why I started Mighty Is Her Call. It is a ministry seeking to elevate mothers by helping the world reimagine motherhood as a sacred and worthy life calling. Motherhood is not just a social or biological role. It is a spiritual one. It affords the chance to do the highest, loftiest, most important thing a human being can do: make yourself a gift to others. Be a living, breathing gift to your children and those closest to you. That is neither old-fashioned nor mundane. That is Christlike. That is divine.
Today, may we renew our commitment to those closest to us, to our immediate families, to our closest companions. May we pray for mended hearts, healed relationships, joyful communion. Holy Spirit, move in us! Holy Spirit, come!
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