CBU Ethics 1pm

Mother Teresa?  You Got it Half Right!

Today we were discussing people who renounce their own happiness for the "Greater Happiness." When the class was asked to name a person who does that, Mother Teresa was the first name brought up.  Gandhi was another. Not one student mentioned anyone who was NOT well-known throughout the world.  Can you name one that has never been on the short list for the Nobel Peace Prize?  Can you name one that you, personally, have met and interacted with on a regular basis? Is this sort of self-sacrifice something that ordinary people can never hope to attain?

No, it is not.  We all know people in our lives with whom we are intimately familiar who do this everyday.  Even if we don't have one that completely belongs to us, we still know some of them.  And all of us call them by some version of the same name: Mom.  Okay, there are a few of them out there who don't deserve to be called a mother.  But by and large, from the moment a mother learns she is going to be one, her happiness is secondary.  What she eats, what she does, medical treatments, even childbirth; all choices are made for the greater happiness. And yes, these things do come with joy, but this joy is reflected on a mother from her child.

We discussed how difficult it is to consider the greater happiness with every decision.  It's not so tough. From the little things, like eating the burnt toast (personally, I like mine rather light), to the big ones, like putting off finishing school, moms are generally willing to put their family's happiness first. Do you really think your Mom found happiness in washing your clothes or cleaning up your crap (often literally)?

Moms aren't perfect. Sometimes we put our happiness first and hide the chocolate candy.  But we are just as likely to take that last piece we were saving for after you went to bed and give it to you when you've had a rough day at school. Now go give your mom a hug.