SacraMom.com

As mothers, our home is our domain. We are the gate keepers, the curators, the custodians and the administrators. It’s a big job and we may or may not have the aptitude for all the aspects of our position, but, it’s our work nonetheless. It’s important work and there is only so much that can be outsourced. (Personally, I feel that my skills bear more heavily as “curator” than as “custodian”, but we should rest in the knowledge that no one really excels at all of these, we’re just all doing our best.) But regardless of where our strengths lie, we have privilege of shaping the meaning of the word “home.”

Our children will forever remember their home, wherever it may be and however many times it changes. They’ll remember if the home in which they grew up was welcoming or cold, orderly or chaotic, forgiving or antagonistic. They’ll remember if the year was speckled with traditions and celebrations that made them intimately aware of how special they are. They’ll remember the magic of Christmas and the excitement of their birthday festivities. They’ll remember the rhythm of the day to day – the routine of the mornings before school and the long Saturdays with nothing on the schedule. They’ll remember expectations in how they conduct themselves in labor, love and leisure and in respecting themselves and their parents and siblings. They’ll remember how we worship as a family within these walls.

It can be a lot to process and manage, especially as the mother who juggles all these positions. The days are so full and there is always another meal to prepare or another load of laundry to fold. I, for one, tend to feel like my home is closing in on me these days. The kids keep getting bigger, there are bins of clothes to swap and jackets to try on. There is too much stuff to find a place for, my counters are always cluttered, and everybody’s shoes are inexplicably in the middle of the floor. It’s enough to make you crazy if you let it.

When it comes to checking all the boxes of my various duties to the home, I’ve tried it all. I’ve tried planners, meal planners, chalk boards, refrigerator white boards, apps, checklists, etc. Some have helped marginally and instilled some good habits, but I wouldn’t say anything has eliminated all the challenges of running a home. But there is one thing that I can honestly say makes a difference.

Prayer.

Make time for prayer.

To be clear, taking time to pray doesn’t mean that your dishes will magically be done, or you’ll be caught up on all your laundry. But this is what it does do.

1. It reorients your vocation, settles your mind, makes you slow down.
   • When I’m setting aside time for prayer – whether it be a daily rosary or journaling of daily scripture – my world, and my home, is reoriented. When I give my first fruits to the Lord, my daily tasks are easier to accomplish in the light of my vocation. I can see the laundry and the cooking and the cleaning as service, rather than drudgery. I can do the small things with love.
2. It normalizes prayer in your home.
   • Prayer should be a common thing to see. Let your kids see you pray. Let them see you with your rosary and go and get theirs to join you. Let them see you read your bible and go and grab theirs too. When they see you pray, prayer doesn’t seem quite as intimidating, and they are reminded that praying is not only meant for church, but that we worship within the walls of home too.

I’m imperfect at making time for prayer. I do well in some seasons and in others it falls by the wayside. But when I make it a priority, all those jobs related to the home fall into place. Not that I do them perfectly, but that I do them with more love, with more patience and with more praise for my Father in heaven than when I don’t.

Make time for prayer, you won’t regret it.

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Blessed Is She

Blessed is She has most beautiful seasonal devotionals. For years my children and I have been doing their Advent and Lenten devotionals together, with Women’s, Men’s and Children’s journals you can pray side by side your family as part of your Advent and Lenten preparations. They also have the most beautiful and functional planner I’ve ever used!

Not Consumed

Not Consumed offers a variety of beautiful Devotionals geared towards kids and families. My Brothers Keeper is a sibling Bible Study broken up into age groups (2-4, 5-7, and 8-12) to help siblings study their unique and God given place in their families in developmentally appropriate ways.

Memento Mori: An Advent Companion on Last Things

Remember Your Death: Memento Mori Lenten Devotional

Memento Mori’s Advent and Lenten devotionals can be found on Amazon. They, too, use Scripture and Journaling to guide your daily prayer through these penitential seasons.

Take Up and Read

Elizabeth Foss has a beautiful collection of Devotionals that speak to the heart of a mother. Rooted in Hope, Consider the Lilies, Call Me Blessed are just a few of my favorites.