On Prayer

Posted on | July 14, 2009
by | Kim, Obl.O.S.B

I wanted to write more on prayer. I, for one; don’t do nearly enough of it. I know that all the graces I need to fulfill my vocation as Wife and Mama are available to me, but I need to be ready to receive them. I don’t handle change very well, and with Elise’s first birthday around the corner, Lt. Brother In Law getting packed to head back to training, and other events – the only thing I can do anymore is try and talk more to the One Who Doesn’t Change.

Elise keeps me pretty busy during the day (and night), but I’ve found some ways to incorporate prayer into my day.

• I do my best to make a Morning Offering. I don’t have any particular one memorized, I just make one up as I wake up each morning. Each morning brings different challenges and concerns, joys and failures. Sometimes they’re long, most of the time they’re short. But it gives God the very first fruits of waking – even if I have bed-head, I’m bleary-eyed, and very groggy.
• When Elise is napping. Oh man. She has totally embraced the two to three naps a day business. I find it’s a REALLY good time to pray at least the Office of Readings from the Divine Office. Some days I can pray Morning and Evening Prayer, as well as the Office of Readings; but most of the time, it’s the Office of Readings. Sometimes if she’s up, I’ll pray them with her, which usually dissolves into her playing with the ribbons.
• An important private intention. I’ve been praying a decade of the Holy Rosary each night for about a month now for a private intention. I often find myself talking to God about this private intention, which in turn gets the conversation going about other things.
• Praying like Elise. Eventually, there will be a time in which I’ll need to teach her to pray. So, I’ve been practicing on praying like a toddler would – “Dear God, thank You for today. It was fun! I did X,Y,Z and ….”
• Pray ‘n’ Play. I know not everyone is blessed enough to go to a prayer group; but seriously, if you can – GO. I love talking with the other Mamas and just having Adult Conversation and watching the littles play around.
• Praying with Greg. We’ve been praying together almost every night since we got married. There may have been a couple days where we prayed individually (such as when I was totally zonked after having Elise), but for the most part; it’s been a nightly occurrence.
• Grace before meals. Both in public and at home.

That’s a quick look at the ways I’ve injected prayer into my life. Obviously, prayer reminders like holy cards, images of the Passion, Crucifixes, states – they help, as well. And there’s always praying the Sacred Scriptures, which should be done constantly. And one-liner prayers – “Sacred Heart of Jesus, be my Love!” – those are good when I can’t really think of anything else, usually if I’m in extreme pain.

It’s important to remember that prayer is a conversation, not a list of requirements or a checklist or a way to get what you want. The ultimate goal of when I pray is to conform my will to the Will of God, regardless of whatever that may be.

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