American Mother's National Convention Speech

        

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.