My one goal this week was to get back into a spiritual routine: pray, read my Bible, and meditate. While I was teaching, I really let my daily time with God sit on the back burner. I was so caught up with lesson planning, grading, teaching, and my students lives (not to mention life at home: new baby, cooking, cleaning, etc.) that I would put reading/prayer off till “later.” It didn’t take long for that “later” approach to become “never.” They say it takes 21 days for something to become a habit; I didn’t keep track but I know that it didn’t take long for me to lose my habit.
The realization that an important part of my life was no longer an important part of my life hit a couple of weeks ago. The summer was winding down — we 
were through travelling, through celebrating the Little Lady’s birthday. . . basically, through with all of the chaotic excitement that was June. And, I couldn’t find my Bible — I had absolutely no clue where it was and I couldn’t even remember the last time I had seen it! I ticked off possible locations from my mental list: no, I didn’t leave it in Bermuda because I didn’t take it; no, I didn’t leave it in Oklahoma, because I didn’t take it; no, I didn’t leave it in Medina because I didn’t take it; no, it can’t be at church because I haven’t been taking it . . . .
were through travelling, through celebrating the Little Lady’s birthday. . . basically, through with all of the chaotic excitement that was June. And, I couldn’t find my Bible — I had absolutely no clue where it was and I couldn’t even remember the last time I had seen it! I ticked off possible locations from my mental list: no, I didn’t leave it in Bermuda because I didn’t take it; no, I didn’t leave it in Oklahoma, because I didn’t take it; no, I didn’t leave it in Medina because I didn’t take it; no, it can’t be at church because I haven’t been taking it . . . . Anyone see the obvious pattern?
My husband discovered it in the back of the car, where it had been thrown up on the rear-window ledge. I don’t remember putting it there, yet it had to be me; I was the only one who ever sat in the back seat with the Little Lady.
And, that’s where I had relegated God — to the backseat of my life. I went to church, but I really didn’t engage in the services. I prayed, ever so casually, little one liners throughout my day, but I really didn’t communicate with Him.
I had become one of those Christians talked about in Paul’s scathing letters to 1st century churches.
Monday was my revival day, so to speak. I was the only one in my house who attended, but that’s as it should be. I didn’t need the Little Lady there and I didn’t need the Hubby there. This was between me and God; this was my time to come before Him, alone — without distractions.
I’m now on day 4 of my 21-day habit forming mission, and I’m enjoying it. It’s not easy — I have to remind myself each day to focus on praying, listening, reading. I have to remind myself each day to thank my Creator, to praise Him, to acknowledge Him. Wow, seeing those words makes me so sad; I can’t believe that I let myself get to the point of needing “reminders.” But, it won’t be this way for long. Each day, it becomes more automatic, more habitual, to spend quiet time with Him. It becomes more automatic to pray through out the day. And, it becomes more habitual to share Him with my daughter, teaching the Little Lady about the fabulous, magnificent God who placed her in my life.
Today, we prayed together and she said “Amen.”
She’s learning to talk to God — and if that’s the only thing she’s learned this week, I’m satisfied.
