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This is part two of the previous article Help! I Have A Hard Time Praying: Part I.
Help! I Have A Hard Time Praying: Part II
by Bobbi
A few months have passed since I wrote the first part of this article. I figured it was time to let you know how things have progressed. As you may remember I have been working on fitting prayer into my day, particularly spending at least 15 minutes in the morning for prayer and short meditation and some time at night to review my day and say my Act of Contrition.
I talked to our local priest Fr. Patrick about this and he said that the main thing is to keep my prayer simple and consistent. He emphasized that I needed to get into the habit of spending quiet time with God and to never let a day pass without praying, even if it was at midnight. (It reminded me of another priest who suggested that I schedule my prayer time in my planner with my other activities and then be sure to keep my appointment.) Keeping my prayer simple and consistent was my goal. Although I couldn't spend hours in prayer (and considering my vocation, God would not want me to) I could make the most of the time I had. Secondly, Fr. Patrick told me not to worry too much if my mind seems to go in a million different directions. Sometimes it will be easy to focus and sometimes it won't. The mere fact that I am trying is a prayer in itself. I can offer my distractions to God and try harder the next time around.
I took these matters to heart and talked them over with Brian. I voiced my concern that although my morning prayer had greatly improved, I was still inconsistent with my night prayer. He suggested that we say our night prayers together so that we could keep each other in check. We had already been saying our evening rosary after dinner but we started to come together to pray about 15 minutes before we planned to go to bed. Together we say some night prayers and then have a little silent time to examine our conscience. (As silent as it can get if Bella happens to be still running around at the time.) Afterwards we say an Act of Contrition, followed by Brian blessing each of us on the forehead with holy water. It is a beautiful way to end our day together and it has helped me immensely to not be tempted to "skip" my night prayers. I think it also serves to bring Brian and me even closer together spiritually.
I have also learned that there are times when I need to step away from Brian and Bella. Brian has often suggested that he watch Bella while I go the chapel and pray a little by myself before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I would always decline, not wanting to take time away from them. However, his gentle persistence made me stop and realize that as the spiritual head of the family he probably had a point! I started to take an hour or so out of our Saturdays to go to Mass or make a Holy Hour in quiet prayer. I have found this time a remarkable opportunity to refresh my soul and increase my love for my vocation as a wife and mother. I am grateful to Brian for encouraging me to spend time alone with God. Brian knew that the more I fell in love with Christ, the deeper I would love him, Bella, and those God has placed in my life.
Well, I hope sharing these points with you will in some way help you in your own spiritual life. I feel rather like "the pot calling the kettle black" but really, we'll all in this together and whatever help we can give each other is worth sharing. So hang in there and keep praying!
Related article: How Can I Make My Life Prayerful As A Wife and Mother? by Janice