No easy feat

Happy Mother's Day! I hope all you women, mothers, and mother-figures are having a wonderful day celebrating YOU! One day is not enough to recognize all the sacrifices, effort, love, patience, and energy you put into raising your kids. But, this is our job. A job, though unsatisfying and difficult at times, is something we women cherish, are privileged, and honored to do. 

Raising a human being is no joke. From the moment you decide (or unintentionally) to have a child, to the moments of your last breath, motherhood is a journey ridiculed with heartache, joys, tears, and laughter. Nothing can prepare you for that road. Everyday poses new obstacles and challenges. Somehow, through gritted teeth or ceaseless moments of happiness, we manage to rise to the occasion when we are feeling defeated, scared, unsure, and anxious. 

Today, on my run, on this Mother's Day, I listened to the TED talk given by Pope Francis. I needed to hear it. My morning started off always as a blessing to live another day, to be the support to three amazing kiddos, and as a wife, daughter, sister, and friend. But, it quickly turned into something a bit more emotional. Something inside me felt unstable, unsupported, sad, and a bit lonely. I have much to be thankful for. Granted, there have been some really difficult days, even the last few months have been taxing. I was being pulled in many directions, things that were once familiar, were no longer. Was I losing touch with myself? Have I been too selfish? Too pessimistic? Ungrateful? So, to escape the chaos that was going on in my house (no different than any other day, really), I put my running shoes on, and did what I knew in my heart and in my soul needed, I went for a run. I had to be alone with my thoughts and to heed the inner voice that was calling, a voice that I had left unattended, neglected. 

The TED talk given by Pope Francis, centered me. He talked about tenderness. This world we live in right now is lacking much of it. Our hands are not reaching across aisles to mend differences. We are neglecting our fellow human being. We are too centered on ourselves and forgetting that divided, we fall AND fail. It's not a new message I was hearing, but a message that needed to be addressed, revisited, and a call to take action. I won't preach about politics or get incredibly religious, but the Pope's message is one that needs heeding. As mothers, we are often living in this daily routine of us versus them (them, being our children, our spouse/partner, co-worker, even other mothers). We have forgotten to go outside ourselves and recognize there is a need in this world, this very moment, to harness the power of tenderness. We are our children's first example of sacrifice, of willing to submit ourselves to providing care to another human being that we do not know, nor expect anything from. That is some power. Each of us together can move mountains using our powers. We intend to raise kind, generous of heart, and loving people. However, we cannot do it alone. 

I want my children to know that life is not easy, but inside them they hold the power to live a life that matters, that can make differences, can mend tears in our societal fabric, overcome hate with love. Tenderness, compassion, forgiveness, these virtues are our powers. We all hold them, and as mothers, it's our job, our mission, to ensure these are passed down from within us, to all those around us. It is no easy feat. Life's true rewards are not without sacrifice, challenges, and laden with fear. Alone, it can be done, but together, we become so much more. Motherhood is more than wiping snotty noses, making dinner, nor just whispering words of comfort or encouragement. It is a community, a life calling, a journey, a devotion.