Called
Beyond the average desire to have children, I have always felt called to do so. It would be my full time job and ministry. I’m blessed to be fulfulling this calling. During worship on Sunday we said [a version of] the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. There are several versions. The second part especially stuck out to me as what I have been learning to and hope to do as a mother.
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
I <3 Francis of Assisi stuff the best; we have a church right down the street from us that is a Franciscan church and they have pet blessings annually on October 4th (his day!) and it makes my heart swell to think about that, and him in general. I think that that is my favorite, and sometimes only, remnant of Catholicism. Matt was also raised Catholic and he always admired him as well, and it was that, in part, that lead us to commit to naming our (future!) daughters with bird names.