The Virtue of Motherhood

When we often hear the word “motherhood,” we think of our mothers or our own role as one. We think of the hard work that is involved in this role or the beauty that lies within the position. But do we ever consider the virtues that come with motherhood? We might look at the surface level of those virtues, but never fully examine the hidden truth that lies beneath one of the greatest jobs life has to offer. The truth is, motherhood depends on virtues, without them the title has no true meaning.

Being a mother does not simply come from the act of giving birth to a child. Motherhood is not just a title, it is a vocation that requires 24/7 dedication and commitment. In its truest meaning, being a mother is saying yes to the call to raise a child out of love, to take on the role of nurturing and protecting her own children. A mother is a major influence on her children as she helps to form their values, character, and morals. She is a primary educator from birth until adulthood, and even long after they have left the nest. A mother accepts her children for who they are with unconditional love and places her needs and wants after those of her children. Being a mother takes sacrifice, and sacrifice is love. Without this, being a mother carries no meaning. We must remember that being a mother is a gift from God, and with that gift comes responsibility.

Not everyone is called to be a mother and not everyone that is a mother is meant to be one. We have heard the stories of women abandoning their children or seeking the easy way out of dealing with the responsibility that comes with being called “Mom”. Motherhood is a full-time job, a commitment that we make to take on what is perhaps the most important role any woman can contribute to society. It is saying yes to late nights and early mornings, to stuffy noses and crying pains, to temper tantrums and mischief. Why would anyone in their right mind put themselves through that? Because with the greatest sacrifice and hard work comes the greatest reward, one of the purest loves we will experience on Earth. So yes, motherhood is not for everyone, but it is for anyone who is willing to take on the role that requires completely giving of themselves to be able to experience one of the greatest gifts that God offers us.

To be a mother is not just performing the tasks, but seeking to perform those tasks with a full and loving heart. This is why motherhood relies on virtues, for without them it becomes extremely hard to carry out the responsibilities, sacrifices, and hardships that come with the job. Virtues such as patience, wisdom, and fortitude are some of the tools we use to perform the task we have said yes to. But perhaps the greatest virtue which motherhood relies on is charity. Without charity, motherhood loses its true meaning and becomes even harder to perform. Charity is so great, that all other virtues depend on it. Charity is one of the things that allows a woman to be a mother because it is a grace bestowed on us by God.

Charity is the supernatural virtue by which we love God above all things, and love our neighbor as ourselves. It is when another person’s life becomes a priority to us, like how our spouse and children become our priority. With charity, we are seeking to serve and help others, without seeking something in return. Charity is kindness and sacrifice, which is also what allows for one to love because love requires the sacrifice of oneself and what one wants. This is why we often hear love is charity and that is because you can’t have one without the other. You can’t love someone if all you care about is yourself, or all your actions seek only things that will benefit you. Love is not selfish, it is selfless.

This is why charity is perhaps the greatest virtue in motherhood. Because a true mother will completely give of herself for the sake of her children. She does this seeking nothing in return, only their happiness and wellbeing. A woman that gives so freely of herself through her actions, words, and sacrifice is not just being charitable to her children, but she is showing them love. This love is a reflection of the love we share as children of God, which is the purest love there is. That is why motherhood is such a gift because we get to experience firsthand what that love feels like with our own children and get a taste of what is to come. Ultimately, when reflecting on what is the true meaning of motherhood, we must remember that it is a gift handed down to us with an enormous amount of responsibility where a mother gives of herself unconditionally and does so by using the virtues granted to her in order to perform the job to the best of her abilities. And when she does this, when she understands and practices the virtues of motherhood, she will experience the greatest joy and happiness that there is, the true joy of being Mom.