Living In Love
sounds like praying the rosary.
Living in Love
feels like cool breath of fresh air.
Living in Love
Smells like Swisher Sweet Cigars
Living in Love
Looks like one more turn on the tractor
Living in Love
Tastes like fresh bread and butter
Living in Love
Tastes like mashed potatoes with white cream gravy.
Living in Love
Sounds like crisply dried sheets rippling on the clothesline
Living in Love
Tastes like a freshly picked pear.
Almost anytime I spent the afternoon with my grandmother she would lie down to take a nap. As we prepared to drift off to sleep she would pray “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray, the Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray, the Lord my soul to take. Then follow up with the “Angel of God'' before allowing her arm to fall gently across her forehead and closing her eyes. I wished I had truly understood the significance of this routine then like I do now; nevertheless, I know now that God shows up in quiet, unexpected places in unexpected ways. He also shows up in the noisy, out of control, chaos too. All you have to do is go to Him.
Living in love requires a slow steadiness, a rhythm, a beat. Living in love requires us to put our feet on the ground. It asks us to slow down enough to feel the earth beneath them. Living in love reminds us to take a moment to spend with a friend. Living in love asks us to breathe in. It doesn’t require grandiose action- just small, simple steps that inspire loving encouragement.
Just like there are specific steps to a waltz, there are specific ways to pray, yet much like the waltz we each have a slightly different way in which we step, sway, and move our bodies, so do we pray and every person takes away their own answers to prayer. We all pray differently, yet God shows up for us each time. When we provide space for Him in our lives and put Him above all else it is easier to hear His guidance and feel Him comfort us.
Does this mean we do nothing, but visit with God all day? Well, not exactly and God understands this. He instructs us in 1 Corinthians to “do all [our] work in love.” We all know that we must work and contribute to our beautiful world, but He wants us to invite Him into our work through prayer. And, a life well loved is definitely a life worth praying for. Living in love though requires a consistent, almost constant interaction with our Lord as we move throughout our day.
I remember growing up that I often thought that my grandmothers worked so hard. I remember asking one how she could do things that were so boring everyday. She laughed and said “Well, I pray.” Then she asked “Would you like to pray with me?” And so, we did. We said a Hail Mary, an Our Father, and a Glory Be together. Then we prayed, The Angel of God. No other words really spoken beyond those. I can still feel the warmth of the sun, the smell of the freshly washed clothes as we hung them on the clothesline, the wind rustling through the ones that were already dry, and the sound of my grandmother's voice as she prayed. Quiet, happy, joyful days- living in love.
Lord, thank you for showing us what it means to live in love. Thank you for showing us that there is not one specific way, but many that can inspire loving encouragement. Thank you for encouraging us to be better and to rest, trusting that You will handle everything. Thank you for all the gifts that you have given to us. We are forever yours. Amen.
Remember a life well-loved is a life worth praying and fighting for. Thank you so much for joining us in prayer. Ya’ll have a beautiful day!
All My Love,
Jen
For more information about Get Strong with Jen! click here.
To view Lean Into PTSD - Day 13 of Prayer click here.
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