Editor's Note He gives us the gifts we need By Darcy L. Fargo

November 3, 2021

#notmyvocation
That was the entire message. I sent it to an acquaintance at the end of a recent text message exchange that began with us talking about marriage and the diaconate and moved into the topic of the priesthood and consecrated life.

When I was a teen, I very seriously considered whether God was calling me to consecrated life. As I moved on to college and young adulthood, though, God made it clear to me that I was called to be a wife and mother.
God knows what he’s doing.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had a conversation with a priest, deacon or religious sister and had them describe some aspect of their lives that made me think, “nope. I could never live that life.” I’ve had experiences in which a priest or religious sister, upon hearing me or someone else describe some aspect of married life or parenting, says something similar.

God gives us each unique gifts. He gives us each unique personalities and preferences. Those gifts, personalities and preferences are part of what God uses to help us determine how he’s calling us to serve him.

As I moved from high school to college, I discovered I really don’t do well living with more than one or two other people. I discovered I have an independent streak and boldness that sometimes cause me to struggle with authority. Religious life probably wasn’t for me. As I moved into my vocation as a wife and mother, I found amazing happiness with my life serving God as a wife and mom in a small family. I found my independence and boldness were assets as I advocate for a son with a disability and as my husband and I try to raise him to navigate this world.

God gave me what I needed to live the vocation to which he called me. I could give countless other examples that demonstrate it.

Similarly, as I interact with the deacons, consecrated religious and priests of our diocese, I see how God equips them to serve according to his call. I see the gifts God gave them enabling them to share Christ in different ways to different people.

As we celebrate National Vocations Awareness Week, may we all take the time to thank God for the gifts he has given us that have helped us know our vocations and live our vocations. May we also pray for those who are still discerning their vocations, that they may discover their gifts and use them in the service of our Lord as he has called them.