November 21, 2007 4:26 PM
Thanksgiving every day
If you are stopping by the day before Thanksgiving, my prayer for you today is that no matter how busy you are you will remember - if not each moment, then every moment you can - to offer what you are doing to your Heavenly Father.
If anything could be described as my signature theme, it is that our lives as mothers offer us a unique opportunity to become disciplined in living a Christ-like life. For mothers, there is no outside recognition - no paychecks, promotions, raises, medals, trophies, certificates or awards. No one notices when we clean toilets or wipe up spills or blow noses. And the better we do our job, the less people notice because when we do it well, we do it with an attitude that makes it look easy.
Jesus said that his yoke is easy and his burden light. When motherhood doesn't feel that way, it's good to remember we're not doing it alone after all. There is someone who sees your sacrifice of yourself and that is the one who gave His life for us.
In Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room, I described how out of necessity - with 7 children under 11 - I had learned to meet the need for "quiet" time - by focusing on God as I went about my daily work. I would pray, sing, cry and laugh with Him while I folded clothes, washed dishes, and brushed my teeth.
More and more, my prayer life became not just a compartment of my life, but part of me. From the early days praying in the laundry room, to the discovery of what it meant to get real with God, I realized that the limiting factor for my prayer life was only me – and the thoughts that cluttered my mind. I could choose to pray anywhere, anytime, while doing anything. All I had to do was turn my thoughts to God.I’ve since discovered that this revelation – though very spontaneous and personal – was not unique. Some years ago, I came across a slim volume called The Practice of the Presence of God, a book that can be read in an hour which offers a lifetime of change.
In it, I found described what I as a busy mother had grabbed onto as a spiritual survival technique, described by a 17th century French monk, Brother Lawrence, who taught himself to respond to God’s presence at all times.
He wrote, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen . . . I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament."
And so we moms too busy for quiet time and prayer closets may find good company in this gentle soul. Housework doesn’t have to be something which keeps us from prayer but something which brings us to prayer.
I'm reminded of this revelation this morning as I try not to be overwhelmed by the responsibilities I have for the next 36 hours. Since many of you are about to go into hyper-holiday mode as well - where you are preparing a wonderful event to delight your family, setting the stage to bring them closer to each other and closer to God in gratitude and prayer - I just want to remind you to Practice the Presence of God today.
I have a turkey to brine - something one of my dear "spiritual daughters" Greta taught me the first year I was blogging. We need to line up all our tables in the family room so that the entire family can sit together. Iron tablecloths and napkins, make a centerpiece, make cranberry sauce. . . .on and on.
But first I have to drive Sophia "over the mountain" to Winchester to get her senior portraits done. She has been so busy that she's missed both days to get them done at school and time is running out. Then I need to come home and take Maddy to piano practice because her schedule's been so busy that this is the only time she can fit it in.
What about my schedule? I want to scream. What about all this stuff I have to do which is like this enormous burden pressing at me to get started? I am tempted to resent the intrusion into my day of preparation.
But isn't that the quintessential thing about being a mom - constantly laying down my plans and my desires to make sure everyone's needs are met? Prioritizing - remembering to stay focused on the next thing rather than on the next 20 things. And trying to make it look easy. By that I mean, what good is it for me to sacrifice the morning to take Sophia for her portraits - sure she could drive herself, but I know it means a lot to her for me to drive her since she doesn't know her way around Winchester and if she gets flustered she won't have a good picture-taking experience - and what good is it for me to put off my own stuff to take her if I make a point of letting her know how much it is costing me?
Far better to just serve as Christ taught us when He washed the disciples feet. Servanthood is what it's all about.
And I remember what the nuns who taught us at O'Connell used to tell us when we faced difficulties: "Offer it up." We used to make fun of them, but now I know exactly what they meant.
And so this day I am offering it all - every mile I drive, every carrot I peel, every wrinkle I iron out - to my Heavenly Father. He has blessed me and trusted me to care in a tangible way for this particular assortment of souls He loves in a way I can only seek to reflect.
Let's not wait until tomorrow to give thanks. Let's start today - and never stop!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Old Woman at Prayer (Prayer Without End) Grace by Nicholas Maes, c. 1656
Posted in Thanksgiving | Permalink
Comments
Thank you so much - this is really the encouragement I needed this morning to be selfless. I was feeling put-out that I have to - gasp - serve others today when I want to sit on my behind. My mother-in-law just had knee surgery, so she asked if I would come help her clean and cook today to prepare for the holiday. "What about MY house and MY holiday plans?" I keep whining to myself. I need to offer it up and serve her graciously. Thanks!
Posted by: Becky Miller | November 21, 2007 10:13 AM
Thanks for the thoughts Barbara. With a new baby and a 2 year old I am sleep deprived with a list 20 things long to do before tomorrow. I, too, am learning to lay down my wants for the needs of my children. I'll have plenty of time to do what I please whenever I please when they are out of the house. So for now, I'll pray through the dishes!
Posted by: Imajackson | November 21, 2007 11:11 AM
Oh, Thank you for this wonderful reminder! In the chaos of preparing to travel for a great Thanksgiving celebration, we've dealt with pink eye, colds, and teething! The stress was beginning to add up as our 13 month old was scream because she couldn't scan the air on our scanner! Thank you!
Have a very special Thanksgiving! May God richly bless you eternally and earthly this year! May His face shine upon you! May you feel His peace! May it be well with your soul!
Posted by: Sara | November 21, 2007 11:38 AM
Barbara,
Thank you for this reminder. Our family has come down with a stomach bug and won't be able to enjoy the festivities with our relatives this year. I am trusting God to use and bless this time in unexpected ways.
Posted by: Laurie | November 21, 2007 12:34 PM
beautiful.... thank you barbara!
Posted by: julie | November 21, 2007 9:08 PM
I love the thought of practice the presence. That is something I can totaly do! And it fits so well with the start of the Holiday rush. Thanks so much for thinking of it. Our oldest son should be here any minute now. He is in the Special Forces with the Marine Corp. As a special bonus it is our eighteen year old son's second round of football playoffs. I made four batches of banana bread this afternoon and if that is all we eat the whole weekend, I don't think it would matter.We have this weekend together and I plan to set the broom aside and cherish every moment I can. My new mantra for 2008 is going to be "Don't sweat the small stuff, practice the presence!"
Posted by: Marci | November 22, 2007 2:32 AM
Hi
Thank you so much for the reminder. It is with all things that we need to be thankful even the stress of big meal prep. I feel blessed to have come across your blog and post. God Bless you and your family
BettyJo
41 f m mom to two great kids and child of God
Posted by: BettyJo | November 22, 2007 3:00 AM
Happy Thanksgiving, Barbara. God bless you all. love, Dani
Posted by: Dani | November 22, 2007 4:40 AM
