That’s a really good point the priest had.  Hopefully when I start getting into negative thought patterns (which is actually part of my melancholic personality) i can remember to pray at that moment instead.  I remember dismissing one potential spiritual director, a deacon in his 70’s, because he told me to do one hour of personal prayer each day (not including family prayer).  I thought he’s clearly forgotten what it is like to have kids in the house all day.  But if I add up all the moments that replace negative thoughts that really could be an hour for me.

Thanks so much for sharing that insight.  I needed to read that today!

I could have written this myself as far as struggling between that half of hour of down time at night vs. prayer time.  Thanks so much for posting this!

One thing I started doing several months ago is praying while I fold the laundry. I pray the Hail Mary for my family as I fold their clothes. I have found that I don’t resent this job anymore, but see it as an opportunity to love my family. I don’t count how many I pray, so maybe it’s not exactly the Rosary, but I guess I’m ok with that.

I went to confession this past weekend and also confessed to not enough time in prayer.  I have two young children (1 and 3) so the priest said to me, “you don’t have time for prayer” and basically said something very similar to your confessor.  “Take the little moments when the girls do something endearing to praise God.  Ask for strength when they are getting on your nerves.”  Things like that.  Should be helpful for me to find ways to “fit in prayer.”  I do still want to incorporate more prayer into my life, but feel this will be a great start!

Thanks so much! I really needed this too. It is so great when an issue like this can be articulated in such a practical, relatable way!

Thank you so much for your candor and humility.  Your post on this could not have come at a more timely moment for me!  God bless you!

ARWEN! Thank you SO much for this. REALLY! I am forever grateful for this post. God Bless you!

Thanks so much for sharing this. I struggle with many of the same things, and the idea of turning the negative thoughts around into moments of prayer is brilliant. I also love Laura’s idea of praying while folding the laundry - I can see doing this with other “mindless” tasks as well. I hate unloading the dishwasher - I think I’ll try turning that into an opportunity for prayer.

Yes! And I have a little bottle of Holy Water in the house now for those negativity attacks. For me, at least, they can be like an attack & having a sacramental at hand is helpful. The St. Michael prayer, too.

The original post plus all the comments were a great insight to me.  I spend a lot of time in negative thinking of all kinds AND also resenting certain tasks.  In my case, as a never-married middle-aged woman in clerical work, the task resentment mostly occurs on the job.  I really need to go in and confess this sin for real.  Thanks again to all of you.  Stay blessed always!

That is an amazing insight.  Thank you for sharing it.  I hope that I will be able to put this into practice.

AMEN! God inspired this post and many of the posts on this blog. Thank you for making me laugh out loud, cry and good cry and find find mamas not tearing down or complaining but loving others. Thank you!

I too was feeling this way as the mother of an autistic and adhd child sometimes I too start feeling sorry for my self, but he is a great little boy and through his insights I know that he is a blessing to me. I do take the little moments to be very thankful and pray with him.

love this!!  Thank you for sharing.