More than two centuries ago, the
Founding Fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors
to declare independence, and build a country based on individual liberty and
responsibility. Less than 40 years after their success, Tocqueville,
a French historian toured America in search of its greatness. He wrote,
"Although the American woman never
leaves her domestic sphere… … nowhere does she enjoy a higher station. And if
anyone asks me what I think the chief cause of the extraordinary prosperity and
growing power of this nation, I should answer that it is due to the superiority
of their women." Those women deserved that timeless compliment.
Yet, now we must painfully ask ourselves, “Are we women also responsible
for the reverse? When we left our traditional domestic sphere, did that
gaping hole begin the wholesale unraveling of virtue in American culture?”
Our Founding Fathers fulfilled
THEIR historic task. As we look at what is vitally needful in our culture
today, if we have any hope of families remaining a pillar of strength, I
suggest OUR historic task is becoming…..Renewing Mothers.
We Renewing Mothers are women
who wisely turn our hearts, and where possible, our physical presence to our
children, our husbands, our homes and communities. Renewing Mothers are
empowered as we realize that the creative scope of motherhood is tremendous.
Here we employ the liberal breadth of all knowledge as we build and
manage homes of beauty and hospitality, as we counsel, nourish, educate and
love our children, as we assume an active role in home-production and
entrepreneurship, and as we step out in confident leadership and support of
wholesome community institutions. Yes, this sphere of womanhood, seen in
its fullest potential is vast and fulfilling. We are also empowered as society
genuinely returns to a valuing of motherhood for the crucial culture builder that it is.
This empowerment becomes
inspiration as we sense that this Renewing is not only of earthly importance,
but is a Divine challenge that requires a fearless trust in Providence.
We are inspired by the ideal ever before us, but we employ an ample sense of
humor for the realities of the daily work. We do not let the
short-sighted anti-motherhood, anti-family rhetoric of our day deter us.
We know the truth: renewing motherhood is the only way a mending of moral fiber
begins.
As women, we can choose what we will
do. We are successful wherever we serve; but the truth is, the thriving
home, an indispensable pillar of societal strength, cannot flourish without
us. Therefore, we Renewing Mothers accept this historic challenge.
The exact details of our course may still be elusive, but we trust that we will
be guided and that our efforts will be blessed for good. We are thrilled
with the expectation of all we and our families will become upon this
journey.
We are empowered, we are
inspired. We WILL renew the great culture that is America’s best, and we
will raise the next generation, that they may in turn have a solid foundation
to raise the next.
