I really feel inspired when I read these posts about creating hard-stops throughout our day to pray. And then I feel discouraged because I know how much I struggle with prayer A.D.D. :)
I am so totally unfocused when I pray. My mind drifts. All of a sudden I am writing a mental to-do list. I get bored. I feel anxious about ever-mounting household needs. My most effective prayer times have always been through the means of journaling, but right now I don't have the writing time that it takes to get all those concerns out of my head and onto paper. Writing is a wee bit too slow... for my list of heart-concerns wants to come spilling out quickly and the pen can't keep up.
As you know I began my knitting journey again. And it's been really nice. Now that my fingers know what to do without my focused concentration, I have been able to think about other things. And most importantly, I have been able to pray. Yes. Focused prayer. I can't believe it.
I think it's the whole "give your children Legos while you read-aloud" principle. If you have a child who is easily distracted when you read or is a kinesthetic learner, you give them Legos or playdough or some object that they can manipulate. The tactile manipulation allows the child to now be able to hear and listen and focus on what you are saying.
So give a mama a set of knitting needles and some yarn, and now she can listen and pray!
I pick up my knitting throughout the day...a few minutes here and there...a few rows here and there. I take it in the car. I take it outside. I carry it around. I can knit anywhere and so I can focus to pray anywhere.
How serendipitous! A lovely new skill is leading me into a richer relationship with Jesus. So. Very. Cool.
Now I am off to knit and purl....and pray!
photo by zannah reed
9 comments:
I'm the same way. I find that when I'm folding clothes, I can pray a lot better. Whoever's clothes that I'm folding at the time I pray for.
When I'm sewing, I can pray a lot better.
Thanks for sharing your post. I thought I was the only one who made to-do lists in my head while praying when my hands are idle.
Prayer seems to be a theme of my week, it keeps popping up everywhere I turn. It started at church on sunday when I heard the quote "I have never prayed for 30 minutes, but I have never gone 30 minutes without praying." That really got me! I want to learn to practice prayer that has no beginning and no end :)
Aimee that is so awesome! Have you ever heard of the prayer shawl? It is mainly for cancer patients--you knit a shawl and pray for the person you are making it for. Then they wear it and are "wrapped" in your prayers....
I want to make some for my kiddos.
can't wait to see what you come up with!
I think you've discovered a wonderful way to have more prayer time. I do that occasionally while knitting too. It's an ideal time to pray for the one you're knitting for too - little prayers knit into whatever you're making!
Blessings as you knit and pray.
I love it that Andrea mentioned the prayer shawl. Knitting and praying go SO well together! Show us your knitting, okay? (BIG HUG!)
I am encouraged when I read that your struggles are mine too.
I think that is why rituals/symbols are helpful, rosary etc. Not as a thing to worship in themselves but something to steady one. Imagine if we stopped all that we did every day, along with many others and prayed five times or more?
I thank God that Jesus knows us so well.
I was so surprised to read your comments about praying. I have the exact same problem and I didn't realize that anyone else did. I thought that there was something wrong with me. I don't know how to knit, but I like your idea of putting my hands to work so that my brain/heart can focus.
what an amazing way to focus your thoughts on time with God. i love it
Thanks for your post, Aimee. I struggle with prayer ADD so badly. I totally thought of the Rosary when I read your post. I think it's beautiful to combine the hands and the heart in prayer. I shall be delving into this more. Thanks for the inspiration.
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