Loveliness of Motherhood

The Loveliness of Motherhood lies in the simplicity of selfless and unconditional love. Simple to say but difficult to live. Sacrifice is very beautiful to behold. Selfless love is awe-inspiring. I hope in the following words the unfolding of good example will inspire all of us to embrace the words and example of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta who pithily said, Love until it hurts … and then love some more.

Living Faith
Alice always has such lovely and inspiring things to say about Motherhood. Her blog, Cottage Blessings, is a beautiful ministry to those who wish to emulate her gentleness and kindness, and who desire to receive one such child in His name. It comes as no surprise to read the heroic example her mother set in “Dance in the Rain.”

Angelic Sweetness
Dawn admits at the beginning of her birthday tribute that her mother “means the absolute world” to her. She says,

“I am blessed to have in her, not just a wonderful mother, but a wonderful friend as well.”

I can almost hear echoes of St. John Bosco, who said one of his greatest treasures was his good Catholic Mother. (I think one would also have to say that Venerable Margaret Bosco was a friend to her son as well – she willingly joined his apostolate and cooked for 500 boys at a time!)

Dawn also pays tribute to her mother in this post in which they spend the day together visiting one of their favorite people. Dawn’s example reminds us to go through life with the attitude of sharing ourselves with our Mother – and I think it is easy to extend this idea to our Heavenly Mother. St. Maximilian Kolbe said he went through life working with one hand. The other hand was reserved for holding on to his Blessed Mother.

Dawn always has something wonderful at her blog, but one particular post "On Mothers, Writers and Girlscouts" is extremely relevant for the Loveliness of Motherhood:
My mother showed me a woman never happier than when surrounded by and caring for those she loved, in the place we all loved and called home. She impressed upon me all the years I was growing and watching, the dignity and joy of motherhood, the importance of tending our home. She revealed this to me every day and in every little way, and in the process revealed to me the way of my own heart.

Burning Charity
A good mother understands the meaning of the Lord’s words:

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life 16 loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
John 12:24-25

Kristen Laurence wrote to me to tell me:

My mother is one of the most self-sacrificing women I know. She not only puts her family's needs ahead of her own, but she places everyone's needs ahead of her own. A couple of years ago, she worked with a woman who did not like her, and my mother knew it. This woman treated my mother terribly, snapped at her frequently, argued with her, and belittled her. My mother had not one negative thing to say about this woman, and though she would tell me of hurtful incidents she never spoke against the character of her co-worker. One day at the nursery (a plant nursery, my mom has quite a green thumb!) my mother noticed this woman seemed rather distraught, so she approached her to discover what might have been wrong. It turned out her co-worker had been in a minor car accident the day before which rendered her car undriveable for a week while it was in the shop. My dear mother gave her the keys to her own car and told the woman she could use it for as long as she needed. The car my mother lent the woman was brand new (a used vehicle, but new to my mother). She walked to work that week.

Divine Wisdom
Marjorie shares a moving post about the gentle influence of her mother who allowed her to grow without hampering her with perfectionism:

“She gave us great freedom to express ourselves within clear limits and to learn by doing. Her mother had been a great artist too, but a perfectionist with an iron hand. Perfection for Mom was superfluous and hampered creativity and learning. She taught me that mothers are not maids and were not created to put away your laundry…”

Margaret from In the Shade of the Old Oaks
learned by grace what it means to be a good mother. She attributes much to Holy Mother Church.

Christina has beautiful things to say about her mother:
"I am me because of my mother. She is the voice I hear in my head when I wonder if I should say or do something. I learned everything I know about being a mother from her."

Angelic Sweetness
I loved the comment left by Love2Learn mom
“When my dad and mom were engaged they went ot my dad’s house to tell the news to his parents. My DAD’S mother put her arm around MY mother and said, with tears in her eyes, 'Bill, you’d better take good care of her.'”

A very beautiful expression of welcoming and unconditional love!

Universal Mortification
Sometimes, we see the goodness of a person when a terrible thing happens to us. Here's an example from Clara,

“I had experienced my first bee sting. My new mom to be, quickly removed the stinger, and put ice on it to relieve the pain. She began taking care of me that day, and still takes care of me when I need it. I learned that she cared for everyone who crossed her path in need of help. Becoming everyone’s mother at one time or another.”

Here’s another example from this giving mother
“When my sister first became ill with Cancer, she and my dad left Europe in order to be with my sister and her four year old daughter during the nine months of Chemo and radiation. Sixteen years later, my stepmother didn’t hesitate for one moment to invite my sister to live with her when my sister announced that the doctors had told her the end was coming. This announcement came only a few months after my step grandmother had died in the arms of my step-mom. She had nursed her for several months, and was willing to go through it all again. It was a very difficult year for her and I think she was extremely brave."

And…
"My step-mom worked hard to make a happy home for us. We always had dinner together . She was a great cook, and dinner was never complete without dessert. Christmas time traditions always included Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast, and the traditional turkey dinner with pumpkin and walnut pie for dessert. Each Christmas she helped my stepsister, stepbrother, and I to make rolled cookies and ice them, making an incredible mess. One year we even made taffy.”

In the example of good mothers, it seems the subject of meals comes up over and over again. Maureen’s mother took the time to prepare special homemade treats which became part of the family's Christmas and Easter traditions.

Rebecca at A Gypsy Caravan has a great post to encourage mothers to bring their children into the kitchen. Take a peek into the kitchen at Stefoodie.net and see another great post full of pictures of children cooking – even homemade butternut squash ravioli!


Heroic Patience
KC gives us a glimpse of her mother who is a tower of strength and perserverence. She came to this country and overcame many obstacles. Please remember this brave and loving Mother in prayer. (Hail Mary full of grace...)

Maria's mother is another mother in need of prayers. Maria’s Mother has been a great help to her daughter in facing her own trials:

"But each time that I thought my road was too rough, I looked to how my mother trudged her own.Through her example of persevering - of her dogged grittiness in the face of her dying dreams - trudging ahead to give her children everything she possibly could despite the obstacles, I am thankful for her example."

Divine Purity
Tinat left a comment for this carnival with this beautiful tribute to her mother:

I was blessed with a wonderful mother. She had scleroderma, which took her life when I was 18. She suffered daily, but I never heard her complain, or waver in her faith. She had great devotion to Our Lady and to Saint Therese. I remember finding roses on our property in the middle of winter in the snow, and bringing them in to her. She taught me many things that I didn't even realize until years after her death.
I was 11 when my only sister was born. My father and my mother's father were worried about her health with this pregnancy as her health had declined, and I do remember negative comments about the pregnancy. She ignored the comments and was so happy to welcome another baby (her 3rd). This memory came to me as I have recently welcomed my 4th child and already encountered family on both sides telling us not to have any more and that they will pray we are not so fertile. (what kind of prayer is that?) I am trying to follow her example, ignore them, focus on the four incredible gifts God has given us, and continue to happily accept His will.
I am so awed that through the communion of the saints my mother is praying for my family and that her lessons continue almost 20 years after her death."

Continuous Prayer
Is it any wonder that Margaret's mother has a worn and loved Bible? Take a look at another of Margaret's endearing posts recounting the prayerfulness of her mother: My Mother's Bible.

Profound Humility
Sometimes a mother needs to allow others to help. The mother needs to play the part of St. Elizabeth while someone else plays the role of Blessed Virgin Mary. In a truly beautiful post, Elizabeth Foss shares her personal experience in allowing others help her to be a wonderful mother.

Perfect Joy
Donna tells us about her beloved Grandmother, who knew how to pay attention to the small things…

My dear grandmother has taught me so much, even now as I am an adult...even though she has been gone for fourteen long years now. I constantly learn from her example of simplicity in living from the memories... reapplying them to my ever changing life as a wife and mother. It is amazing to me how I now realize as an adult how powerful a witness of love the little things are to others.

From this 4Real thread I learned of the good example of Rita who said,

“Encourage your children to know the Blessed Mother as their own mother. She will always, always, be there to console and encourage even whe we mortal mothers are limited.”

The example of the Blessed Virgin herself has been weaved throughout this post. The large titles throughout this post refer to the 10 Virtues of Our Lady according to St. Louis de Montfort. (The title of Perfect Joy has been suggested by Fr. Stefano Manelli, FI)

Mary, the Holy Mother of God, has led many of her children to great sanctity. Let's resolve with the dawn of this new year to imitate her more closely so that each of us may be numbered among her special children, the saints.