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I don’t *only* find God in a church.
He is with me, even as I wash the pots and pans, as I comfort an unreasonable toddler, or change a squirmy baby. These tasks could be called mundane or sometimes called quite often annoying, haha. Yet these tasks of life act as my prayer, especially when I do them with a smile, to the best of my ability, and with love, even when I want to feel the opposite of love. These little acts of sacrifice and prayer will strengthen us. It’s not easy, it won’t happen every day, yet it’s something to strive towards.
I was recently visiting my cousin and she had this print by my good friend Katrina displayed near the sink. As one does, I then staged her super clean kitchen with fake dirty dishes in the sink to snap this picture. 😉
The flowing script reads, "God walks among the pots and pans." What a message! But what exactly does it mean? This author translates the quote from the original Spanish and explains:
St. Theresa of Avila says that the seeker of God who has already found the joy of contemplation would prefer to be with God without interruption, but if her obligations call her to fulfill her everyday duties then God will be for her not in the contemplation but in these duties:
"So come on, my daughters, do not despair. If obedience demands of you to be employed in external things, then understand that if these are in the kitchen then the Lord walks among the pots and He helps you there both externally and internally."
How beautiful is that. We are praying not only with our hands and words, but also with our feet, with our kisses on cut fingers, with consoling a tired baby who won't give in, strong-willed children, staying patient when you want to yell... and so on. I'd love to know - how do you pray in the midst of the day? What simple acts do you like to use as a prayer?
To find and purchase this print - visit Rose Harrington Art
**This post is not an ad, she is one of my favorite artists and I enjoy several of her pieces in our home.
Angel
I pray going throughout the day, but lately I've been praying for specific things while folding laundry. It is a quiet space for me and I've much of it to fold. I cook, clean and do laundry, so I try not to wash dishes as well...
Torry
I often pray while cooking, and always while doing dishes. My mother kept her prayer list pinned onto the curtains of the window over the sink. She never made a point of saying anything about the list; however, I knew what it was and knew she prayed for those people in the place she often was, her kitchen. And so I learned to pray where I am. I love to sew and pray for those I'm sewing for. When it is clothing, I pray for all who will end up wearing the clothes, as clothing is often passed along. I pray while on hold on the phone. Two years ago, I was under going cancer treatments and all I had the energy to do was to pray. I learned then that God loves you and not what you are accomplishing.
But most of all, I pray through the dark nights when I'm unable to sleep. Something good has to come of those miserable nights, right?