Have you ever heard someone say that motherhood is a woman's highest calling? I certainly have. Whole books and blog posts have even been written that were centered around this idea. For a long time, I personally believed that statement to be true. But I don't, any longer. Interestingly, what I have found is that as I have reoriented my thinking around what my actual highest calling is in life as a Christ-follower, motherhood has had infused into it so much more purpose than it ever had before, back when I merely believed mothering, on its own, was my ultimate calling.

If motherhood is not our ultimate highest calling, though, then what is? I find it to be two-fold: to be an image bearer of God (Genesis 1:26-28) and to be an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), living our lives as Great Commission workers (Matthew 28:18-20).

Why is this important? Well, it's important for several reasons! I don't know about you, but when I wrongly view motherhood as my ultimate purpose in life, I begin to base my identity in a place it was never meant to be based—in motherhood itself. When that happens, my identity (rather than being placed in the firm foundation of who I am in Christ) is easily shaken—on the good days I feel like the most amazing mom ever, while on the bad days I find myself drowning in despair. Likewise, when I am wrongly viewing motherhood as being my ultimate calling, I begin to think my ultimate fulfillment is to come from being a mother, as well. Then when I experience a hard day with my kids and find myself not enjoying motherhood very much in that moment, I begin to feel shaken, wondering what I am doing wrong if my fulfillment is to actually come from mothering. 

No, mama, motherhood on its own is not to be seen as your highest calling. Your ultimate calling is to image God to the world and to spread His gospel. And that? That is what then makes motherhood such life-changing, important, and worthwhile work. When we understand motherhood to simply be one of many different ways we live out our primary calling as  ministers of the gospel sharing the good news with all, then we understand its worth and find ourselves excited about the journey ahead.