learning to pray

It's really hard to teach kids to pick up after themselves: keeping their rooms clean, making their beds, attending to their laundry, etc. As a parent, I go back and forth between wanting them to learn the gratification and practical efficiency of having a neat room and getting them to learn that there are consequences to their actions, i.e., if they don't pick up after themselves, they'll have to live in a a messy room. The problem with the former is that I don't like having my efforts to keep the house in a livable condition are taken for granted. The problem with the latter is that they're pretty good at not caring if their room is neat or not. And so it continues.

It's also hard to find time to pray. I know I should pray for my kids, but I find that I often rush through my prayer times just mutter some general "bless the kids" kinds of prayers.

So today I put the two together and learned something about the "quotidian" (everyday) mysteries of prayer. As I was straightening up the kids' rooms it dawned on me that I could pray for them at the same time. I prayed over their beds, that they would feel secure and loved. I prayed while putting picking up their clothes that God would provide for their needs and more. I prayed over their desks that they would apply themselves to the schoolwork while learning that building character is more important than top grades. I even decided to fold some laundry and use that as an opportunity to pray. I considered each article of clothing and what it might mean to my daughter and then prayed that she would know that she is beautiful to me and to God and that she would be secure in that knowledge and confident in facing the challenges that life throws her way at this formative period of her life.

My prayers gave me joy and gratitude for my family. I'm still basking in it. Who knew that chores could be a thin place between this world and the heavenlies, a window to help me better glimpse the kingdom of God or even a doorway into God's presence: "In your presence there is fulness of joy."

But I still hate it when the kids don't realize the effort I put into keeping the house in order. I guess more prayer is needed, both for them and for me.