The Calling of Motherhood

For a long time the responsibility of becoming a mother has kind of intimidated me. I know that it is my responsibility and role as a woman to raise my children. Even though I know this, coming to accept this for myself has required a long process of study and prayer. I am grateful that God has allowed me to think through this in my own time and way. Although He knows what will bring us the most happiness, He wants us to desire that knowledge for ourselves and will never force it upon us.

Even though I have come to peace with the fact that I should embrace the role of motherhood, I still have had feelings of fear and inadequacy when I consider actually being a mother. I have seen how draining and demanding this role is and I have wondered how I will be able to find joy through motherhood. As I read through some assignments in my Marriage Preparation class, I began to have some of my concerns resolved.

One quote that changed my perspective a bit was found in the talk “Being a Righteous Husband and Father” by President Howard W. Hunter. He says, “Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.” It made me pause to think of the implications of this statement. Of all the roles I could have, be it successful career woman, friend, advocate, etc. the role of mother is highest. Another teacher reemphasized this point in class when he explained that motherhood is a calling through which a woman can become more Christ-like than any other calling in this world. Clearly anything that is worth it in this world requires sacrifice. But the blessings are always much more valuable than what we lose. I began to feel that despite my fears and inadequacies, motherhood will bring me so much more than what I will sacrifice.

Additionally, as cliché as it sounds, I have always wanted to in some way change the world. For this reason I have chosen to study social work at school. Yet a comment in Elder Scott’s talk “The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness,” caused me to pause and consider where I can most effectively achieve this goal. He said “Government and social plans will not effectively correct [a weakened home], nor can the best efforts of schools and churches fully compensate for the absence of the tender care of a compassionate mother and wife in the home.” I realized that my impact in my own future home will be far more significant that whatever policy changes or social work I can perform. My social work professor reaffirmed this idea in class the other day. She said that the greatest joy and accomplishment she has found is through her responsibility as a wife and mother.

I still do not know how the details of my life will work out. I do not know what God has planned for me. But I do know that when the time comes I want to dedicate myself to raising my children. This will bring me greater joy and closer to God than anything else I can do in this world.