Your Vocation of Love by Agnes M Penny

Author:Agnes M Penny [Penny, Agnes M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781618901521
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2006-02-01T06:00:00+00:00

16

Confidence

“In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

YOUNG mothers may be easily daunted by the task that God has entrusted to them. Some may be intimidated by the thought of raising a large family, which goes on growing even bigger all the time; the confidence of these women is further shaken by more women who declare emphatically, “Two is enough for me! I couldn’t handle any more!” or “Your friend has how many children? She must be a saint!” (or “She must be crazy!”) Although certainly the means of becoming a saint can be found in raising a large family, the attitude of many women implies that this sanctity consists of nothing but hardship and toil beyond the capacity of the normal woman to bear. Because of their own lack of understanding of the nature of a large family, these women would discourage others from knowing the challenges, the joys and the love that come with being open to new life. Other mothers may not doubt their ability to manage the work of raising a large family, but rather their ability to shield their children from the immorality that permeates modern society. Still others, who plan to homeschool their children, may wonder if they are qualified to teach their children, or whether they are capable of handling such a big responsibility, in addition to running their household and caring for their smaller children.

However, all these fears are needless. As long as the mother places her entire trust in God and is willing to devote her time and energy to her vocation, God will make up for her deficiencies and will provide her with the strength and wisdom to handle however many children He sends. As she grows in experience, she will be amazed at the creativity, ingenuity and wisdom that God has helped her to develop. Although she will have a lot of work, she will find that, with God’s grace, it is quite bearable and that the materialist society around her has greatly exaggerated the work and the sacrifice, while completely ignoring the joy and love that accompany a home filled with children. Doubting her own ability to “handle” many children is foolish, for in reality, she will not be handling them at all; she is merely the weak instrument used by the all-mighty God. As we look at the lives of the Saints, we see over and over again how God has chosen weak men and women to accomplish great tasks, relying solely on His power: the poor, uneducated fisherman whom God chose to lead His Church as the first Pope, for example; the shy, backward, young shepherdess, St. Joan of Arc, who followed God’s call to lead the French army to victory against the English in the Hundred Years War; the sensitive St. Therese, who used to burst into tears at the slightest reason, but whose simple, powerful wisdom has caused her to be named a Doctor of the Church; or the renowned St.

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