Mother Lode
Mother
Lode
“She is not concerned for her household
when it snows—
all her charges are doubly
clothed.” Proverbs 31:21
Ok. Apparently dirty dishes are, in fact, quite popular. So much so, that due
to multiple responses, I'm going to follow in the footsteps of the populace
fathers of my youth, George Lucas (trilogies), Michael Jordan (three-peats),
and God (Holy Trinities), and will write on into a “cleaning themed trio.”
[Right about now my sweetheart of a Husband might be regretting forgetting to
make me promise not to air our family’s dirty laundry in public. Sorry Honey,
lets just try to focus on God’s greater glory here.]
By the pile above you can tell two things. One: I am clearly not concerned for
my household when it snows. Two: I don’t always do one load of laundry every
day, even though, like taking multivitamins, one-a-day for me is highly
recommendable. This was half of the laundry that got washed and (praise
the Lord, because this next bit is the real challenge) folded/hung-up/put away
a couple of weeks ago. I’m working on my regular, daily, homecare discipline in
a few arenas. This happens to be one of those areas in which I would like to be
better. (Pray for me!) So, I have been inviting Jesus into my laundry. He’s
been a little slow, but steady with His impact here. I take that back a little.
He’s a great teacher, I’ve been a reluctant, drag my feet, and
very-easily-distracted-by-other-less-tedious-activities-and-stuff-I’d-rather-do-like-read
kind of learner. At least now I don’t loathe the pile. I am even rather
thankful for the pile. That’s BIG progress, folks! About a year and a half ago,
Providence placed in my hands a beautiful book by a local Catholic mom and
author Janice Carleton (please note: God even uses the “weakness” of reading
when I maybe should be folding, to make improvements in spite of myself,
#norunningawayfromGodsplanpossibleforme). In her book, God Speaks to Ordinary People - Like You and Me, she mentioned that
she prays over each piece of laundry for the person who will wear it. She prays
with thanksgiving for them and for that item of clothing they wear. Her words
changed my outlook. Look at the pile folks! Each
piece! This ought to be a spiritual gold mine, a Mother Lode, a basic
training ground for a very serious prayer discipline. If I could actually
remember to do that and concentrate well enough to pray over
each piece of laundry I ever do,
there might actually be a fighting chance for all those Biblical Heaven on
earth promises. I might qualify for world cup style prayer challenges,
meditation pray-offs… religious holy men and women of the world here I come…
who can pray the most attention and love into a massive Mother Lode of
clothing?! Um…. yeah, sorry, my competitive under-thought is showing. Let me
fold that up and put it away. I need much more practice.
So, I’ve been trying this style of prayer as best I can. It depends on the day,
and what else is going on around me for what happens. Apparently the bigger
pile is actually a good thing for now. It gives me more time to get into prayer
or even remember to pray. Occasionally, I’ll get several pieces in and pass
into a “quiet calm” rather than an active, attentive prayer over each and every
piece of clothing. Lots of days I forget or am too distracted by the past or
future to think about intentionally praying over the present pants and shorts.
Sometimes folding/hanging/putting away becomes more a mulling process. If I’m
involving the kids in the putting-away process, the likelihood is I am not
remembering to pray along. Although, as I write this, I am identifying one of
those potential “teaching moments” for my kids - what if I taught them to pray over each piece of
clothing?! Then they would do what they do with grace before meals when we are
out to eat and I get distracted – they’ll remind
me! Oooh. Brilliant. Deep. With my memory it’s a good thing I wrote that
down.
