I’ve gotten lots of emails in recent days. Many of you have generously shared your thoughts about ways in which busy mothers, especially those with young children, can find time for developing their spiritual lives. Below is a sampling of what some readers had to say:
Perspective from an “Older” Mom
“You have MORE time to be contemplative as your children become older and everyday more independent. It would seem to be the natural progression of things….as they need you less, you are freed to be more contemplative…. and that is as it should be. Prayer goes with your teen and adult children for all the times when you are no longer physically with them! Prayer for this world that they live in gets more attention now! You expand your prayer life as your children’s world expands! It is one of the most lovely benefits of growing older…the opportunity to be more contemplative.”
-Louise
Mother of Many Grown Children Chimes In
“One cannot be a mother of many children (or even one sometimes) and have time each day for church, novenas, etc. Our duty is our family and sometimes it seems as if we are just “squeezing” God in as an afterthought. He knows our hearts and as long as we are keeping Him first and foremost in our lives, He understands. I fell asleep many times without “formal” prayer – having been totally exhausted by the day’s chores – but with Him in my thoughts. Scrubbing floors or doing dishes, changing diapers, or cooking meals – these are all opportunities for grace, if we have consecrated our day to the Lord.”
-Judy
A Mother’s Works of Mercy
“One of our pastors recently reminded mothers that they are fulfilling the Lord’s will everyday by feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, making peace and giving comfort So there!”
-Bea
Sanity- Saver
“I once asked my cousin, a mother of 11 children, how she kept her sanity. Her answer was: ?I sometimes go to the broom closet with a package of Smarties…and don’t come out until the package is finished.'”
-Lucille
Offering It Up
“I, like you and so many others, have had those days when nothing went right. One of the ways I kept to the task was to offer that task up for a deceased loved one. When I felt like just giving up, I reminded myself that if I did, then my loved one wouldn’t receive the benefits from my sacrifice. This worked very well. I can’t say that I always completed the task perfectly, but at least it WAS completed. And I felt good that in addition to having one less thing to do, I was also able to help my loved one get to Heaven. Sometimes what we don’t want to do for ourselves, we’ll do for someone we love.”
-Edie
Work As Prayer
“You are absolutely right about putting God in the center of our daily doings. We as mothers and grandmothers need to remember to pray daily. Actually, I do believe in
doing our daily chores, tending to our families etc. are in themselves our daily prayers!”
-Scarlet
Keeping It Simple
“What I remember from those hectic days was the simplicity of St. Bernard’s Orare et Labore. And I’d mutter those three words; eventually I began to understand that work is prayer, and as I reluctantly abandoned the comfort of sleep (never enough!) I would just mutter, ?It’s all Yours, Lord.’ That was it.”
-Carol
A Couple of Links
Some other moms sent along some links they thought might be useful to other busy women:
Here’s a nice one for some daily prayers: Catholic Forum
This one can help any busy woman get more organized: Fly Lady
Thanks to everyone who wrote me- Keep fighting the good fight, Mommies!