A few weeks ago I was climbing into my car to go pick up groceries when I saw a dog, tongue happily lolling out of its mouth, sprinting across a patch of grass in front of me. Not far behind the gleeful pup were two, equally gleeful PJ-clad toddlers scampering in the wake of the canine escapee.
Next came their mom, my lovely neighbor, with her beautiful blonde curls bouncing as she made a mad dash after her dependents (dog included).
I immediately hopped out of my car and assisted in the pursuit.
We were able to quickly wrangle the two boys and their furry friend before any of them ended up in the street. My neighbor sheepishly apologized and then thanked me for my help. I was desperately trying to keep a straight face so as to not encourage any further shenanigans from her crew because when it’s not your kids or your dog on the run, it’s really quite entertaining. Plus, I got my sprint workout in for the day.
Later that evening, the mom sent me a text once again apologizing for her runaways, and I reassured her that I’ve been there – as in totally overwhelmed and chasing errant children as well as dogs – and also that I’m always happy to help a fellow mom in need.
In fact, during coronavirus quarantine I’ve missed connecting with as well as ministering to moms in more meaningful ways. But thank God for technology – texting, Zoom, FaceTime, and email, am I right?
We weren’t meant to raise our families all alone. In reality, we weren’t really meant to do much of anything in this messy, complicated life companionless. We need each other every single day in the trenches of motherhood – whether it’s just to laugh when a friend texts a hilarious GIF or to bring a meal to a friend in need.
1 Corinthians 12:21–22 reminds us that “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’ Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary.”
The Body of Christ is designed to be interdependent. We desperately need each other’s strengths—and weaknesses. We weren’t meant to parent in isolation or to rush to canonize our fellow moms as the “perfect parents” who make us look pathetic.
The Catechism reiterates this:
The “talents” are not distributed equally. These differences belong to God’s plan, who wills that each receive what he needs from others, and that those endowed with particular “talents” share the benefits with those who need them. These differences encourage and often oblige persons to practice generosity, kind- ness, and sharing of goods. (CCC, 1936–1937)
Your Heavenly Father wants you to share your talents as well as allow others to help you in your weakness. Maybe the grass isn’t greener on the other side; it’s just grass that needs tending – people in the vineyard doing important work. Or perhaps, some of that brown grass on our own hillsides is there to help us to grow spiritually—or maybe it’s there to give another mom an opportunity to serve us.
God is so wise. He didn’t create us to be soloists. Like a choir, together we can create beautiful music even if as individuals, it’s impossible to hit every note, every time. When we get off-key, we have backup singers to keep the song in harmony.
This why I’m so excited and humbled to be a part of the upcoming Catholic Moms Summit. along with over 60 other speakers who are ready to share their hearts – and their joys and struggles they face as mothers (all those yellowish-brown patches in their grass that you might not think exist except in your own yard). Danielle Bean, who has been both a professional and mothering mental mentor to me for nearly two decades now, is hosting this unique virtual event that will bring together Catholic women from all ages and stages and walks of life to connect personally about those things that challenge us, to share about real ways we can find joy in our vocations as moms, and what to do when that joy feels hard to find. I’ve been asked to talk about my own journey with anxiety and depression, which is both an honor and frankly, terrifying.
Best of all, it’s free to register! And if you’re not a physical mom, a Catholic mom, or if you’re perhaps now a grandmother far removed from the daily, hands-on work of being a physical mom, don’t think this event isn’t for you. The wisdom of the religious sisters participating reminds us just how universal motherhood is. We’re all mothers and daughters to someone.
The Summit takes place from November 13-15, 2020 and its mission is to help you find balance, peace, and joy. Register now!
I can’t wait to see you there!