Ambition and Vocation

Today, I had to drive across town and the GPS took me on some unfamiliar roads because of traffic. I had the radio on and wasn't paying attention to it because I was trying to figure out the traffic on the unfamiliar road, and something came on in which the female was saying she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom someday. The guy was saying that she was "lacking in ambition."

I don't know if he understands the definition of ambition. Ambition does not require one have a specific vocation. It doesn't make you unambitious if you are a housewife and mother, or a doctor, lawyer, store clerk, telemarketer, accountant, dry cleaner, lawn mower. A vocation does not define one's ambition. Ambition is a desire, an attitude.

Here is an example of what an ambitious doctor might look like:
One day Dr. Ambitious had a patient come in who was having an allergic reaction. This doctor decided to uphold the 5th commandment (You shall not murder.) by helping her patient find a way to improve his allergy and have a better life. She used her First Article gifts (the gifts God gives to all people) to do this. She took the time to find out what the allergic reaction is and helped this patient to the best of her ability. There is an ambitious doctor. She aspired to help someone have a better quality of life!

Here is an example of what an ambitious lawn mower might look like:
One day Mr. Lawn-Mower got a job mowing a lawn for Mrs. Smith. Mr. Lawn-Mower saw that Mrs. Smith's lawn needed care in order for the grass to grow well, so he mowed her lawn diagonally one time and in straight lines another time. His desire was to have a happy customer with a well kept lawn. He made sure to blow the debris from the lawn back onto her grass so that her curb looked good when he left. Mr. Lawn-Mower is ambitious. He desires to work hard to achieve a nice looking lawn. Over time, Mr. Lawn-Mower's company grows because of the good report he gets from his customers. He is able to expand his business. He even wins awards for the best lawn mower in Mrs. Smith's subdivision. Mr. Lawn-Mower upholds the 7th Commandment (You shall not steal.) by being fair to his customers both in dealing with their finances and their property.

Here is an example of what an ambitious stay-at-home mom might look like:
This mom sees that her children will become citizens of society one day. She works with her husband to create an atmosphere in her home in which their children will learn how to communicate effectively and politely with others. She sees that her children know basic skills that they will need to have as they grow up. She understands that making their lunch and cookies for treats not only fills their bellies, but feeds her nearest neighbor. She loves and serves her neighbors every day by providing a safe and happy home for her children and husband. She recognizes when something is amiss in the household and works to find a solution whether it be the attitude of a child or the untidiness of the linen closet. These things might not change overnight, but over time as she loves and serves her husband and children by taking care of these things she loves and serves the very ones that God has given her to care for. This mom upholds the 4th Commandment (Honor your father and your mother.) by taking care of her children. She also upholds the 5-10 Commandments as she cares for both her husband and her children.

Not everyone can be a stay-at-home mom. Not everyone can marry a stay-at-home mom. However, saying that anyone of any profession or vocation is not ambitious simply because you don't care for the vocation they are in is both not accurate and not helpful. 

Instead of judging one's ambition based on his vocation, let us judge their ambition based on attitude.

The unambitious doctor would murder an unborn baby.

The unambitious lawn mower would swindle his customers out of their money.

The unambitious mother would desire no good things for her children. Honestly, I don't think I know of any mothers who are unambitious. That is one of the wonderful things about mothers and fathers. They do desire good things for their children. Praise be to God that He has given us the gift of parents!