Praying Through the Seasons of Motherhood

I have thrown up my hands so many times when it comes to my prayer life.
Something's gotta give. Lord, I'm trying to talk to You, but there are these
small humans (yea, the ones YOU gave me!)that always seem to get in the way.

"Love ME through them." God keeps putting that on my heart.

Even though my arms, lap, brain... is full of children these days
I have such a peace in imagining that I am hugging Christ when I pick
up one of my children. I am drying His tears. Preparing His food.
Singing to Him. Laughing with Him. Loving Him... through caring
for the children He gave me.

I don't know why it took me so long to realize that the seasons of prayer
must change right along with my vocation of motherhood. In my singleness,
it was easy to make a plan for loving God. Now that my life is a series
of relay races (change diaper, fill sippy, switch laundry, read "Green Eggs
and Ham" for the 324th time, turn on a movie, NOT that movie, the other movie,
go for a walk, TO THE PARK, change diaper, fill sippy... repeating.), my
prayer life has to be flexible if I'm to talk to God ever again.

When I'm pregnant, I make time to sit down and rock the baby en route
and pray simple prayers throughout the day as God reminds me that HE IS NEAR
in the creation of new life.

When I have a nursing baby, I cherish the late night feedings and seize
the opportunity to pray in the quiet with the fresh, new life in my arms.

Toddlerhood... I have just arrived. My boys are now 3 and almost 2! GAH! And as
I enter this new season of motherhood, I must adapt my prayer life. I have to find
the way to Him through them... the people with the little sippy cups and BIG needs.

I'm not super smart or a professional pray-er by any means, but I asked
God to show me a time to pray... and He gave it to me.


Every day, for however long this season lasts, my boys lay down to take a nap together.
It generally takes 30 minutes for them to fall asleep. Usually I'm rushing out of their bedroom,
working as fast as I can to get all the things done on my to-do list before they wake up...

It's nap time, people! The momma happy hour.
And for crying out loud - it's probably the only time of the day
where I can hear myself think, shower, eat, pee in peace, etc!

But the 30 minutes it takes for them to fall asleep? I knew God was asking for that.
So I gave. And I've been giving for over a week now and it is sweet, rewarding time.

I have every excuse in the book as to why I CANNOT sit down, but reality is that I need to
sit down so God can love on me. Because I crave it! Motherhood is no walk in the park.
Well, you definitely take lots of walks in the park, but you know what I mean.

We love love love our littles and the father of those littles until it hurts...
Let God love on you today, in whatever season you find yourself in?

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