Steps to Heaven

Living out our vocation of Catholic parents is more than just a Peloton kind of day. Taking full care of our bodies means giving the importance of balance, prayer, community, self-care, and embracing the sacred journey of parenthood through the lens of our Catholic faith and our heavenly Father, whom our faith was given.

When I think of exercise, I immediately think of physical activities that strengthen our bodies and improve our overall health. From treadmills and elliptical machines like the Peloton, to weights and yoga mats, there are countless machines and tools available to help us in our quest for fitness. There is another form of exercise that I tend to overlook inside of the daily lives of being a Catholic parent.

Being a Catholic parent is unlike any other role in the world. It is a beautiful vocation that challenges us to constantly grow in our faith and strive for holiness. It requires selflessness, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to raising our children according to Catholic values. It keeps us busy and never ends. I can remember coming home from the hospital after our first born and thinking it wouldn’t take me long to go back to cooking daily dinners, getting back to the gym, and reading. I love to do all those things, especially cooking, so I never thought for a second that would ever change. The length of time a box of cake mix remained on our kitchen shelves proved me wrong and for whatever reason, I left it on the counter and never put it back in the pantry. Maybe it was a subconscious reminder for me to recognize the gift of my new busy, my new role as a mom, the beginning of this incredible chapter unfolding.

Catholic parents exercise their faith life daily. Patience is not only a virtue but a daily exercise that stretches our ability to remain calm and loving, even in the most trying situations and we have Jesus to show us the way. If He can calm the storms of the sea, He can calm the storms of our life as well.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” Mark 4:35

Selflessness and prayer are also exercised. This constant giving of ourselves for our children can be exhausting, but it also presents us with an opportunity to develop a spirit of selflessness, mirroring the love God has for us. I never understood the selfless love of a parent until I became one and I have never prayed more for anyone than our children. The prayers become a continuous dialogue with God sharing in the joy and the hardships of daily parent life.

The gift of parenthood is just that, a gift and one that deserves to never be overlooked. So, the next time you are too tired to make it to the gym, cook dinner or read your favorite book, try not to sell yourself short. After all, you are exercising every day the steps that help get you to Heaven.

By the way, I finally did bake that cake!

My prayer for you is that you embrace the vocation of being a Catholic parent with great confidence knowing that no matter how many exercise routines there are out there, the only one that guarantees a forever life is the one you embrace with Jesus as your guide.

Together in prayer. Hand in hand.