As a mother it can be difficult to find quiet moments to pray. But as Lent approaches, its a good time to remember to pray more often.
As a child, I had observed my own mother getting up early to pray and have some "quiet time" before my sister and I woke each day. She would have some spiritual reading and her Bible spread out on the kitchen table. Perhaps even a notebook or journal for personal notes.
I like to think that I am a morning person, but as we've welcomed more children into this home, mornings can be hard for me to pray. I am typically awaken once or twice in the night for various children's needs. Nursing a baby or helping a child find the bathroom in that half sleepful place removes my ability to arise.
Mornings come quickly these days. And nights are very late with a teenager. (Sometimes I go to sleep before she does!) So my own quiet time is very limited. When morning finally comes, I am greeted with several faces. Quiet in the morning just doesn't exsist in this house.
So how can a mother of one or many fit in prayer?
I attended a retreat conducted by a priest of the Comunity of St. John over 12 years ago in which I was encouraged to do 7 acts of adoration throughout the day. I posted several reminders around my house right away. I put a card above the changing table that said "acts of adoration". I wrote out a bible verse and hung it in kitchen over the light switch. I hung the morning offering plaque where I brush my teeth in the bathroom.
These little acts of adoration were taking a breath to realize what moment you were in and giving that moment to God.
Taking the act of changing the fourteenth diaper of the day and offering it as an act of thanksgiving for the ability to do it. Worshiping God in the joy and laughter a child finds with their toys and playing with them. Pausing during a meal to see the blessings around the table and taste the goodness of the Lord's gift of food. Looking with awe and wonder at nature in your own backyard. This requires mindfulness. Being present in the here and now.
When I only had one child, I would put her down for a nap and hurry around doing all the things that I thought I couldn't do while she was awake. Making dinner, cleaning the toilet, reading a book for me.
When the second baby came around, I realized I needed some down time too. Rather than using the quiet time with the child as a time to think of all the things I could be doing (or are unable to achieve because I am stuck in a bed or on the floor next to a bed!), I began to use the nap time to pray. These days I tend to have a baby nursing while I am trying to get a toddler to sleep. I can pray while laying there. When praying a 20 minute rosary, the time passes more quickly. It forces my body to be at rest and my mind to only think on positive things.
Have you seen the Jesuit web site called pray as you go? It has a daily lectio divina type prayer time that lasts about 15 minutes. It's an easy way to concentrate on the Gospel of each day. The Laudate app includes this as part of many supports to prayer. I can use my bluetooth/phone capability in the car to listen to this each day as we travel to kids' activities. Those days that we stay home, I can use this during nap time. I find the Office of Readings helpful as well if I need to pray in bed before I get up.
I also like pray the Angleus at noon. In my village, there is still a noon whistle. It works as a great reminder to pray. In the winter or when I am away, it is harder to hear the whistle, so I downloaded the Angelus Pro onto my phone. This app gives a signal at noon time calling me (and the children) to prayer.
Do you have technology or simple visual reminders that can help call you to prayer? Do you feel a renewed call to prayer during Lent?