Beds all rumpled and in need of making. Laundry piled high – waiting for the washing and the ironing. Peppers and corn still in their baskets – needing preserved before they start to go bad. The list goes on…
I’m mindful that God has me here. Right here. Right now. Bringing order and refuge to this little parcel of land.
Sometimes that means some pretty fun tasks: baking a loaf of bread, creating a new table centerpiece with sunflowers from my own garden, finding a great bargain at the second-hand store, using home-grown tomatoes and peppers to produce a warm pot of chili, planting fall flowers, 
stumbling upon just the right scented candle (on the clearance rack at Pier One!).
But, sometimes, the responsibilities are just plain mundane. Ironing? Updating the kids’ chore charts? Scrubbing the gunk off the inside of the oven? Making the bed for the umpteenth time? (Side note: Umpteenth is a great word, isn’t it? My Grandma G used to say it. I laugh at myself when I use it.)
These are the tasks that sometimes fill our days. Just the mundane stuff of life. It needs done and it blesses the family but it’s not exactly fun. And, it sure doesn’t feel very significant or sacred.
And, yet, isn’t that where Jesus often met people? As they were going about their normal life chores? For example, take the woman at the well – she was just going about the normal, rather mundane, task of getting water for her home. She crossed paths with Jesus and their conversation turned her life upside down. At that well, on that day, the mundane became sacred.
And, what about me? Could my tasks be opportunities for conversations with God? As I iron Rick’s shirts could I talk to God about my husband, asking Him to give Rick wisdom as he leads our family and our church? As I make beds, could I pray for rest – both physical and spiritual? As I update chore charts, could I ask God to mold my kids into people that understand the value of hard work and responsibility? I’m not sure but maybe even the gunk in the oven could somehow be offered up to God in life-changing conversation…
Maybe all of my mundane tasks could be opportunities to commune with the Living God. Sacred moments filling my day and putting those everyday tasks into true perspective.
“Lord, I submit myself to you. I realize that You have placed me here and that running this home well is part of your plan for me. Help me to take hold of it and seize the opportunity to commune with You as I tackle the tasks for this day. Would You cause me to look for You in the midst of my chores? To even anticipate them because I know I can talk with You as I do them? As I do the jobs that will make our dwelling a refuge, remind me to pray for my family, friends, and even strangers who come into our home. Just to talk with You as I go. Lord, your Word reminds me that everything can be done “unto You.” Please help me to live that reality as the sacred and the mundane are woven together in the moments of my day.”
Today, I’m joining with others who are reflecting on prayer in their own internet places. Powerful posts. Feel free to join me as I link up with them at:
A beautiful prayer. Turning the ordinary into the sacred. Blessings to you.
Thank you. I am praying this, too.
The sacred and the mundane…woven together. So true.
Help me, Lord to see You in the mundane…for all is sacred when done unto You.
Thank you, for your truthful, grace-filled post!
Blessings,
Catherine
“I realize that You have placed me here and that running this home well is part of your plan for me. ” I need to see that plan too.
beautiful post, shan. i needed this today. i love how you point me to jesus still…even though it’s not in person anymore!
This is such a sweet post. God’s will is a marvelous place to be… even if it’s at the ironing board! The fact that He’s called us there makes it beautiful and fulfilling.
On another note, “umpteenth” is definitely a mom word. I seem to recall mine using it frequently to describe the number of times she’d asked/done/cleaned something.
And your laundry room is my laundry room’s identical twin. I find my cinder block walls to be kind of a buzz kill. BUT I’m blessed to have my laundry room so I won’t complain!
Reborn
Loved the “Mundane becomes sacred” I believe this is exactly what Jesus wants from us, to find him in everything we do, from the least to the most. I didn’t spend time on the little things for 20 years because I was too busy with my career, etc. I am so blessed to have this part of my life to enjoy every part, from the fresh clean rain kissed air, to sweeping, cleaning, cooking, loving and working. Thanks Shannon for putting it in such beautiful perspective!
Thanks for some really great thoughts on prayer. What a great way to incorporate prayer so naturally throughout the mundane chores of the day…something I will remember for when I am doing the housework.
Grace & peace,
Sarah
Oh, I pray with you: “opportunity to commune with You.”
Yes… all holds that opportunity.
Staggering.