Does anyone out there remember when I started the “Contemplative Mothering” series of posts? It had to have been a couple of years ago now. Didn’t think so, moving on. This theme has been on my mind a lot lately, so it’s time for a revisit.
I want to share two books with you, the first one is Parenting: A Sacred Path by Patience Leiden Robbins. It has six sections, each beginning with a theme, followed by Monday – Friday reflections and prayers surrounding that theme. She encourages the use of meditation during your quiet time and includes two sample meditations in the back of the book. I’m so excited about this book and I hope you’ll check it out. You can order it from Shalem Institute shalem.org or Center for Children and Theology cctheo.org (check out the other wonderful things offered on both those sites, if you have time). One thing I especially love about this book is how the parent is encouraged to tap into their enormous love for their child and operate from that love in their everyday dealings with that child. Awesome!
The second book is called Finding God at Home by Ernest Boyer, Jr. I have not read this book, but I am in the process of acquiring a copy. Robbins recommends this book and quotes it frequently in her book (above). Here’s an excerpt.
God is always present to us. The greatest thing we can do in life is to teach ourselves to be always present to God. The small, routine tasks that fill every day spent in the care of others may seem to be a barrier to this, but they need not. They may in fact be turned into one of the finest of spiritual disciplines, a special sacrament of the routine through which what to others appears the most ordinary and mundane of tasks is revealed to be a sacred act, an act of prayer. Prayer is nothing more or less than being present to God. And so this is a spirituality that makes all of life into prayer, a prayer of love, a prayer of help for others, a prayer of courage.
And this brings me to the experience I mentioned in the title of this post. Today I was to prepare a dish for the potluck brunch that we will participate in tomorrow following our Easter meeting at Dad’s new Bible study. I chose to make Telluride Pasta Salad from Peggy O’Mara of Mothering Magazine. It is so good! So today as I cooked pasta, steamed potatoes, toasted pine nuts, sliced herbs and vegetables and measured capers, olives and artichoke hearts, I prayed. I took it easy, enjoyed each step and set my mind on the community of people that may or may not indulge in my yummy side dish. And I thought about God and Jesus, full of gratitude in the wake of the few but meaningful Easter traditions my family and I shared this week. Last night we all watched The Passion. It impacted every one of us. Jonny cried! Sid cried, and I cried nearly constantly. June told me this morning when she woke up, “Jesus saved us, Jesus saved Jonny and Aveline and Daddy and Mama and June. I love Him.” Aveline had a hard time watching, I encouraged her to look away, she ended up falling asleep, but this morning she wanted to watch it again. I think we’ll move on to those clay-mation Jesus DVDs for everyday viewing!
I was also very inspired. Christ’s suffering made me feel the beauty in my work, even if I’m not washed, and still in the clothes I slept in. What I have done, what I do daily, and all that is in my future was, is and is going to be an act of love to those around me. Not that I have always acted in love, or always will, but . . . Oh, I don’t know, it’s just how I feel, like I want to consecrate everything, all of me, past, present and especially future to love, for Christ’s sake. It’s what I want from myself and I think it’s what Jesus would do through me if I could really turn myself completely over to Him. It feels like that’s the only way to live, to spend our earth time.
Blessings on your Easter.
One comment
It was your dad that shared with me about committing everything, including daily chores, to God. Using it as a time for prayer. How much more for a young mom who hardly has time to breathe, but definitely does a lot of cleaning. Wish I had this book when I my son was younger.
As for cooking, first, your pasta was delicious. Second, did you ever see the movie Like Water For Chocolate? It’s kind of different, but it shows how this girl’s emotions always affect the meal she is cooking. For me, cooking is my outlet, my therapy, my place to be creative and a place to just be in the moment.
I don’t really follow your blog, though I wish I did. So many things to read, so little time. I love that you do this, though :-)