Parenthood: A Path to Inner Transformation
The experience of parenthood has a profound and multifaceted impact on a person’s worldview, leading to a reevaluation of life’s priorities. Parenthood opens up a new dimension of responsibility, compelling individuals to reconsider what truly matters in life. Many assert that raising children is not merely about managing everyday tasks, but rather a journey of spiritual and moral development. For example, one saying goes:"Raising children is a very serious, responsible, important, and spiritual matter. As Apostle Paul states: a woman is saved by bearing children. To raise a child properly means to become saintly, for only a saint can truly nurture a child. If a person is saintly, then his or her children will also be saintly. That is how it happens. Throughout Church history, there have been many holy families..."This emphasizes that parenthood not only alters one's perspective on life but also promotes inner transformation, where genuine values override personal interests.Moreover, the parenting experience shifts priorities, making the loving family the center of life. Children infuse every moment with purpose, encouraging parents to consider not just their own well-being but also the future of their descendants. As further noted:"Children constitute, if not the entirety, then at least a significant part of the meaning of life. A person in such circumstances cannot lose heart, despair, or withdraw – they have children to feed and must set an example of vitality and humanity. This connection with a child, this immersion in raising children, instills a sense of responsibility. Whether one has children of their own or not, a person becomes mature and balanced. Children tie us to the world. When a child is born, it is as if the child emerges from eternity, and by engaging with children, we somehow partake in eternity."These words illustrate how parenthood inspires a reevaluation of life’s priorities, transforming the family into the central sphere influenced by a shift from momentary pleasures to a sustained focus on the future.Finally, parenthood compels one to plan not only one’s own life but also that of one’s children, fostering a long-term perspective on the consequences of one’s actions. In this context, it becomes clear that by relying on a long-term vision, parents prevent short-term gains from overshadowing the broader picture of the future:"You must define your priorities and goals, stick to them, and carefully manage your time. I must constantly keep an eye on time so that I can manage to do at least the most important tasks.
What are the priorities in your life?Where do your children rank? First? Second? Third? You must determine this; otherwise, your children will be sidelined and suffer from a lack of attention."Thus, the experience of parenthood not only changes a person’s inner mindset but also helps one recognize true life values, where family and the upbringing of children take center stage, and selfish ambitions recede to the background. This leads to profound changes in both one’s worldview and the arrangement of life’s priorities.