Pockets of Time

When a busy schedule prevents the luxury of large windows of time for prayer, this writer has found a way to be purposeful with what she’s got.

When I run into other moms at church, in the neighborhood, or the grocery store, I find that I am having the same conversation over and over. I say, “Hi! How are you?” and she replies, “Busy!” She then delves into her litany of appointments and tasks that fill her schedule, and I reply in kind by agreeing and sharing my own over-scheduled obligations. We end our rushed conversation and run off to get something else done. 

Sometimes there are things in my life that I need to purge. It may not always be easy to remove it from my life, but oftentimes I am aware of the things that consume my time and give me nothing in return. For me, more often than not it’s watching too much mindless TV or wasting the day away on my phone. I’ve found these things are typically self-centered, and when I choose to live the way Christ wants me to, I am given the strength to remove those things which take up too much of my life. 

As a mom, though, so much of my life is spent in service to others. I am a chef, nurse, house cleaner, and chauffeur, not to mention boo boo kisser, story teller, snuggle buddy, and disciplinarian. Then my father-in-law comes to visit, and I must be the perfect hostess. The list goes on indefinitely, but the hours in the day do not.

How can I find time for Christ when I'm pulled in so many different directions? It’s especially difficult when these many different directions are for good things for my family. I have found myself wishing for the seemingly simple life of a nun from time to time, especially when I’m craving time and intimacy with our Lord but finding the demands of my vocation of motherhood to be standing in my way. But then I remember the beautiful gift of my calling, and I have worked to grow in my relationship with Christ within the demands of my schedule. 

I rarely have large blocks of time, but I am gifted with what I call ‘pockets of time’ regularly throughout the day. I have five minutes here or there, often while I am waiting for something, that I used to spend scrolling on my phone or otherwise distracting myself. Now, I try to be purposeful with these pockets of time and turn to God in prayer, even if I don’t have time to read the daily readings or journal in my bible study workbook.

I used to get stuck in my growth toward Jesus because if I didn’t have 20-30 minutes to sit down, read, pray and reflect, I wouldn’t do anything at all. Then by the end of the day I would feel like a failure because my spiritual time was just something else that I didn’t get done today (along with a shower or getting that laundry from a week ago folded). Somewhere along the way, I realized that God never gave me a set of expectations for how and when I have to pray. That came from my own unrealistic expectations, compounded by comparing myself to other women who seem to have it all together in their faith journeys.

Now, instead of dedicating 20-30 minutes to God in the morning, I turn to Him for a minute or two 20-30 times per day. Before I get out of bed in the morning I say hello, offer my day to the Lord, and ask him to show me his will. When I begin a household chore, I offer it for someone in need. I pray for a moment before I start a workout, thanking God for the gift of my body, the temple which houses my soul and the Holy Spirit. I have learned that just a few moments is all it takes to recenter my day and draw closer to Christ.

The best part about approaching my prayer life in this way is how my spirituality has deepened and grown. Previously, once I had completed my morning prayer time and reflection, I would check the “Time for God” box and then go on with my day. Now, by regularly recentering myself and refocusing on God many times throughout the day, I am able to let him work in me and through me all day long. It is such a gift that God has helped transform my life so that my entire day has become a prayer.

Copyright 2023 Maria Riley