Julie Bogart, author of the Bravewriter method, shares on her blog, a recent episode of Oprah, where mothers were encouraged to share their 'horror' stories of mothering.
“I hate the fluids of babies: pee, spit up, spilt milk, snot.”“I cried the day I drove to the car dealership to buy a mini-van.”
“There were days I wanted to ’send them back to the hell from whence they came’.”
Apparently, the audience members' emotions fed into each other and it became a frenzied outpouring of negativity directed at motherhood and children. How unbelievably sad. Julie Bogart took action in her home:
I punched pause on the DVR to set the record straight:
“Being your mother has been the single greatest joy and privilege of my life: not a burden, not a perennial unrelenting source of emotional and physical agony, not the ‘hardest job in the world’, not the knee-capping blow to my ‘adult individuality’ nor has it been the thankless, under-appreciated, most overlooked profession these mothers would have you believe. In fact, my sense of personhood, identity and self-knowledge have grown more through mothering than any business I’ve started, any degree I’ve earned, any relationship I’ve pursued. I thank YOU for being the best people to ever happen to me.”
I couldn't agree more. It is through motherhood that I have found myself...a much better 'self' than I could have been without children. I am infinitely better off for having had the experience of giving and loving and sacrificing for these precious souls entrusted to me. Motherhood is truly a privilege. And because marriage, motherhood and family are essential to God's plan for mankind, these institutions are coming under attack--more frequently, more boldly and more viciously than ever before.
BUT, we know God's team has already won the battle. Yes, it may seem that we are desperately waiting for the cavalry to show up, sometimes, but we are now in the midst of the liturgical season that celebrates our Victory. There is always hope, because our Victory is assured. And....I have seen a glimpse of the cavalry...and it is good.
My dear daughter, a sophomore at Franciscan University of Steubenville, related a beautiful event that occured last week at the FUS campus in Gaming, Austria. The men, led by a young man who is discerning the priesthood, hosted a Woman's Night. No, not a night where the women 'just have to get away from it all' and go out for a drink with their gal pals, but an evening to celebrate womanhood. Dressed in suit and tie, and with impeccable manners and gallantry, these men prepared and graciously served dinner to the women, serenaded them, and in all things, treated the ladies with the utmost courtesy and respect. The young 'pre-the' (pre-theologate major for men discerning the priesthood) then spoke to the ladies. He related the story of Adam and Eve, and told them that the reason for the Fall of Mankind was because Adam failed in his duty to protect Eve from the temptation of the serpent. He showed them in Revelation, where the Woman fled to the desert to escape the dragon, and St. Michael was sent to protect her and the child. He affirmed these young ladies and reminded them of their value and dignity before God. He also challenged the young men to respect, protect and honor them, not because the women are the weaker sex, or to subjugate and control them, but because God has given women equal dignity and the special privilege to be co-creators with him. (He's gonna make a great priest, don't ya think!?)
In the midst of the myriad attacks against women, motherhood, marriage, and family here in America, this beautiful evening devoted to affirming women was taking place 'across the pond'. These young men and women are the cavalry. They are being trained at Franciscan University. They are being trained at places like Christendom College, Magdalen College, the University of Dallas, Thomas More, Thomas Aquinas, Ave Maria University and more. They are being trained in the hearts of Catholic families across the nation who suffer ridicule and are ostracized for choosing to live a lifestyle rooted in the Truth. And let's not forget our Christian and Orthodox brothers and sisters who are also fighting the good fight.
John Paul II called for a new springtime in the Church...a New Evangelization. So, although right now the battle rages on, the Cavalry is coming. There is cause for Hope. Spring is in the air.
