The Most Important Mission: Love

I've never been on a mission trip.  But I do live a mission everyday.

It's not as life changing as taking care of orphans in a foreign country or teaching Christianity in far off lands.  Those missions are amazing, and God calls certain people to that kind of service and sacrifice.  But that doesn't mean that the rest of us aren't called to important missions as well.

For 15 years, my mission was to help my patients at my dental office.  I didn't just beautify smiles and teach adults and kids how to brush and floss.  Sometimes, when I would lean that chair back, I became like a therapist, an ear to listen.  So many people just need someone to listen to them and to show them that they truly care.  I didn't always succeed, but I tried very hard to treat every single one of my patients as a fellow human being and not just a set of teeth in my chair!

I'm also a missionary to my children.  To teach them about the Faith through my words and actions.  To raise them to be loving and holy men and women of God by reading them Bible stories, teaching them how to pray, loving their father, being thankful even when times are tough, living a joyful life in the midst of messy rooms and little sleep, and so much more.

But in all honesty, I'm called to be a missionary to everyone in my life!  My family, my friends, my co-workers, and everyone I come in contact with.   

And so are you!

I believe that every single one of us is called to be a loving Christian example to all of those we meet.  What better way to lead others to Jesus than through our actions?  It could be anything from helping a friend get through a crisis to thanking the grumpy sales clerk with a smile.  In this way, we embody the love of Christ.

We are all called to different missions, but in the end, no matter where we're sent or what we're called to do, every single one of us is under the same mission, His mission: 
 

to bring our fellow man to His Son Jesus Christ through words and acts of love. 

 
This was very important for me to hear and understand as a new stay-at-home mom.  It's easy to get lost in the everyday monotony of making meals, changing diapers, and cleaning up messes.  How is this mission of mine important? is something I would consistently wonder.
  

What makes my mission important isn't what I'm called to do or where I'm called to do it.  That is just what makes it uniquely mine.

What makes my personal mission important is my goal and how I live it: leading my children to Christ by a loving example.

    

Like St. Thérèse of Lisieux said:  My vocation is love.
How true that is for every single one of us. 

Photo by my lovely friend Amanda Jo

So to all my fellow missionaries wherever you're stationed at this very moment:  

may we live out our missions with holiness, love, and fervor for the glory of His Name!

               

Are you looking to link up with Tuesday Talk?

Head on over the next post!

Today, I'm linking up with 
my link party Tuesday Talk along with my 12 other awesome hosts,
Andrea at Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday: Share Your Mission,
and with these awesome parties :)