When I was pregnant with my first born, a woman handed me a small card with the following written on it. It is still on our fridge behind a broken magnet that says “Don’t mess with Texas.”:
The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral — a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body.
The Angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new Saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation.
What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?
– Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty
The language may seem a bit magniloquent (how do you like that for a vocab word of the day?), but I was reminded of the sentiment when reading the lovely comments on my latest post. One comment in particular made me think:
If you were to build a cathedral with your bare hands, stacking brick after brick for years, painting ornate designs for decades — and then open that cathedral to the world to inspire and delight the millions: would people say that you are just a builder?
If you were to create a cure for a worldwide disease after years of research and practical experience — and then share that cure to heal the many suffering: would people say you were just a scientist?
But if you were to grow and create a unique human life never before existing — then teach and encourage and inspire them to live their purpose, go forth and change the world: why do we say you are just a mom?
I like ole’ Joseph Mindszenty’s opening line. It’s not “The most important person on earth is the CEO or the Celebrity or the President.” It is: The most important person on earth is the mother.
Now that is someone who can change the world.