[January 18, 2023] Another question to ask, and one that must precede this one. “What is the role of the mother?” And my answer to that is the role of the mother is to be aware of the real world; she must be awake to its tragedies and malevolence. But, what is the sacrifice of the mother?
I had a good friend, a female Army Major (we were both Majors at the time, both 30 years old), and she was very career-oriented, smart, and articulate. She was an Engineer like me, although she had been commissioned as an Engineer and had more experience in that field. We often spoke about engineer challenges, the typical career kind of chatter you will always hear.
One day she said she had decided not to “bring a child into this world because there are too many people on the planet.” I thought this was a terrible decision and told her so. It wasn’t a very original thought or well-considered. Her decision deserved a little criticism, and I was okay being that person to tell her so.
The Club of Rome was the one that prophesized that the world population would grow to such a point by the year 2000 that there would be mass starvation. They were spectacularly wrong. The Club of Rome also compared humans to a virus (or cancer) that was destroying the world. Their metaphor is poorly chosen. Viruses you destroy. Is there an interest to “destroy” humans? I think not.
If you are a mother who is worth your salt, you offer your children to be destroyed by the world. That’s what you do. Your children will be born; they will suffer, have trouble in life, and then die. If you are awake as a mother, you know that to be true. Yet, you also know that it will be worth it if your children live a proper life. Then you try to make that happen. Of course, this is the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
That is the sacrifice of the mother.
Is it right to bring a baby into this terrible world? Every woman surely asks herself that question. Some say no, and they have their reasons. Mary is the archetype who answers yes. That is an act of supreme courage on her part. She knows what’s to come. She knows what will happen, and she is the woman who says yes to life, knowing full well what life is, not naïve, willful blindness.
The strong mother is the one who tells their kids to “get out there and take your lumps; you can handle it.”
In turn, the children offer themselves to the world so completely that any betrayal, torture, or death does not break their faith in the world. This is an ancient story we have documented as far back as written records. That is the model for the honorable person.
————–
Please read my books:
Another spot-on article from Gen. Satterfield, thank you sir.
Amazing. I never gave this much thought but now I can see a bit better. And looking more into the Blessed Mother is something I will start NOW.
Lady Hawk, one thing we can all do is realize that the Blessed Virgin Mother is a metaphor for how women can and should act to push their children out into the world. They should also be aware that pushing their young boys out quickly (and giving them the proper skills for survival) is one of their moral duties. That is the only way they can become strong. Cheers!
Gives a new, valuable perspective on motherhood.
Well …. let’s just continue to lie to women about their careers as more important in their lives than anything else, including being a mother and having a family. Most of the females I know, fortunately, figured out the lie about the time they were 30.
This is one article I will cut out and paste on my refrigerator. Feminists of the West are slowly degrading the value of motherhood. And women of the East have largely given up on being mothers too.
Population decline will be the result. I heard today that India passed China as the most populous nation in the world.
Wow, thoughtful article. ❤❤❤❤❤ I loved it.
Yes, Emma. I do believe Gen. Satterfield struck a nerve with this blog post on the sacrifice of the mother. I have no idea how he comes up with his thinking.
Yep, top of the leadership blogs but should also be at the top for practical modern philosophy.
There are a few things in life that are unchanging and the idea that mothers much push their children out into the world is one of them. We see this too throughout the animal kingdom, most visible in the mother bird who pushes her chicks out of the nest to either fly or fall and die. That is the way of the world and the proper way.
Bless mothers.
Yes, Ayn for what greater blessing is there in life!
POWERFUL paragraph …
“If you are a mother who is worth your salt, you offer your children to be destroyed by the world. That’s what you do. Your children will be born; they will suffer, have trouble in life, and then die. If you are awake as a mother, you know that to be true. Yet, you also know that it will be worth it if your children live a proper life. Then you try to make that happen. Of course, this is the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield, statesman, philosopher, and … family man.
Maureen you are on it faster than me. YES! But at first reading, I was a bit taken aback until I gave it some thought.
“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of lover, everyone becomes a poet.”
Thank you, Plato.
Maureen, you sure did put your finger of the most important part of this ancient story. That is why the idea of the Blessed Virgin Mary has persisted for so long ……. it is reality and truth combined. It is an ancient story and its meaning is unchanging.
Top-notch article, Gen. S. Well written. And, thanks for making the connections between the Blessed Virgin Mary (and mother) to the sacrifice of her son Jesus (their children) to reality of the world and its suffering. But the world also has the ultimate of meaning by living it with truth and responsibility.
Need I remind folks here on this leadership blog to purchase Gen. Satterfield’s latest book, “55 Rules for a Good Life”? Maybe not but I do want to say that I see the making of a followup to that book in this postings here for the last few months. Maybe we will see a new book title “55 More Rules for a Good Life.” Now mark this as the day I made the prediction and got it right. And, have a great week.
Very perceptive, Pen Q. You and me are thinking alike. I just didn’t come out and say it but it was in the back of my mind. Oh, support Ukraine too against tyrannical Russia.
Slava okraina 👊👊🇺🇦🇺🇦🇽🇰🇽🇰
Yes, support Ukraine. But note that our desire to stop tyranny has not gone away despite the INCREASE in TYRANNY in the West like the USA, UK, Austrailia, etc. Let’s stop all tyranny because we are seeing what it produces ….. death.
Gen. Satterfield is always making me think and this article tops it.
A bit off topic but I would llike to direct your readers to the DAILY FAVORITES section of your blog, Gen. Satterfield. There is much to be had in reading these articles and worthwhile because it point us to what is happening from the persepctive of good writers.
Thanks AT. I read them “daily.” Of course!!
❤
Got that right.