Did I Forget To Pray Today?

Did I Forget To Pray Today?

Are you like me? Do you often find your life is so busy you forget to stop and pray? I know I do, but it's not because I find God to be any less important in my life, it's simply because He’s not nagging me or demanding my attention the way everything around me is; and I'm quite certain, that's your reason too. Right?

As a retired grandmother, I really thought when I retired, my life would slow down, but now, I often wonder how I ever found time to work. I'm sure for a lot of grandparents’ their story is the same as mine. After raising their own children, they're busy helping their children with their children, or with other matters of importance. It's certainly not uncommon nowadays. and needless to say, retirement isn't quite what it used to be.

So! How do we get our praying time in? Years ago, when I worked a job outside the home, I found driving to work to be a great time for me to pray. Most often it was the rosary I prayed because my commute was long enough to afford me the time. Now, since I've retired, I still try to find time when I'm driving my car, but it's usually just a little prayer or two, and not the entire rosary like before. Often, I get my praying time in while I'm waiting on something, or someone. I take advantage of the few moments I'm sitting idle and pray. It can be anywhere at anytime.

Sure, I know I don't have any form of routine, but when the opportunity is there, I seize it, and that works for me.

It's like this! It really doesn't matter to me where I am, it's having a moment to say thank you God for giving me another day with my family; or thank you blessed mother for hearing my everyday concerns that I know you understand as a mother too; or simply thank you to some wonderful Saint for helping me today when I was in need of their help.

Personally, I think we should all ask ourselves “what works for me?” Are there more moments we can seize to say a quick prayer, if we don't have enough time to say the entire rosary. Maybe a few Hail Mary’s while we’re flipping the morning pancakes or a quick Our Father while we’re setting the dinner table, not forgetting grace of course. Or how about while we're sitting in traffic or waiting in a car line when picking up the kids?

When I started asking myself why did I ‘forget to pray’, I discovered I wasn't taking advantage of my opportunities and I was letting prayer get pushed to the back of my mind.

Today, I still have difficulty praying as often as I should, but I’m trying harder to change that, especially during this time of Lent, by seizing every little opportunity I can to pray more and more. It's a wonderful feeling, and I’m always thankful when I can say that today, I didn't ‘forget to pray’.