Rocking Chair Kitchen Prayer

A few weeks ago my littlest one had some restless nights, so my husband moved the rocking chair from our closed in porch into the kitchen (my special place) so this tired mama could rock and rest with the little jewel in my arms. She seems to have a little trouble with reflux that was causing her a great deal of discomfort at night, especially when laying on her back. So I went to work investigating my diet, in hopes to bring her some relief, and made an effort to keep her propped up for sleeping. She is much better now so mommy's catching up on sleep, too. But the rocking chair has found a permanent home in my kitchen. The kitchen is my sanctuary...I spend the greatest portion of my day there. In the early mornings (except for when the sunrise beckons me from my front porch) you will most likely find me in my kitchen by candlelight, huddled in the rocking chair. The more time I spend there, the more my heart takes joy in serving my lovely ones, the more I delight in dinner to be served, dishes to be washed and rewashed and rewashed. My heart begins to be thankful that my little dishwasher has proven itself a better rinser/sanitizer than washer! Because now I have the opportunity to learn to lovingly wash each dish with my own hands, an act of worship from a thankful heart...yes everything imparts His grace.

The Sacraments

The Sacraments

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel, about the Sacraments--

he got so excited

and ran into a hollow in his tree and came

back holding some acorns, an owl feather,

and a ribbon he had found.

And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,

you understand:

everything imparts

His grace.

~St. Francis of Assisi~

Translation by Daniel Ladinsky

Love Poems From God: Twelve Voices from the East and West

A few words...pt. 2

How do we find time in the midst of the chaos of daily life to nurture a spiritual life? Desire...Inspire...Inquire

Desire
Well, if I've captured your interest enough that you are still reading, I'm guessing you already have the first necessity down...desire. We start with a desire, a will to know God. What you will, whether you have succeeded in accomplishing it completely or not, is evidence of where your heart is.

Inspire
Desire, like soil, must be cultivated. If a tree, known by it's fruit, has a desire to bear good fruit, yet is planted in dry, infertile soil, it's fruit will be poor no matter how great is the tree's desire for good fruit. If your desire is to know God, feed your spirit! Inspire your mind and will with the wisdom of the ages found in the writings of godly men and women from the past and present. Be inspired!

Inquire.
Webster's Thesaurus defines an inquiry as "the act or instance of seeking the truth, information or knowledge about something." My personal belief is that God pervades everything, God is literally omnipresent, God's spirit is in all things and holds all things together. Without God, nothing is. So as we still our hearts in prayer, we are not asking God to come down and meet with us. Rather, we are quieting our spirits enough that we can become awake to the presence that is already always surrounding us and permeating our very being. God is infinite, boundles spirit,not far off, but near...always. It is up to us to "be still and know."

Is it really that simple? Do you want to know God?...Ask. Ask when you are doing the dishes, ask when you are folding the laundry, ask when you are tucking your kids into bed, ask when you are brushing a little girls hair or cradling a tiny sleepless one at night. And listen...God is there...in every moment, every breath, every smile, every tear.