Árdís - 01.01.1958, Page 22

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ÁRDÍ S
Prayer is an habitual attitude — seeking God. (Pray always,
with and without words.)
Prayer is giving God the opportunity to do what he would
want done.
It is not ‘overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His
Willingness.’ (I quote Archbishop Trench.)
WHEN SHALL WE PRAY?
There are many opportunities for prayer in our busy days.
Probably the most usual time is before meals. Most of us can spare
a moment to say “Thank you” for our food. But why for food only?
We who are blessed with so much more — our comfortable homes,
our warm and attractive clothing, a land in which we have more
security than most of the people of the world. Our prayers of
thanksgiving should rise from the moment we awaken all through
the day.
Probably the best time for prayer is on rising in the morning.
O’ but we are in such a hurry then. Pray while bathing or dressing.
You may not have time for a long prayer on your knees, but lift
your heart in thanksgiving for the safety and rest of the night,
and the beauty and opportunity of the new day.
Waiting on the corner for transportation to work, school, shop-
ping, or a meeting, — waiting for the traffic light to change, —
waiting for an appointment with the doctor, the dentist, or the
hairdresser, — waiting in line for lunch, — time that is otherwise
a total loss in our busy day — we may use for prayer.
Or if we are stay-at-homes, — busy homemakers — those first
quiet moments after the morning scramble to get the other mem-
bers of the family off to work or school. What better time for a
few minutes of quiet prayer?
If we have a task we dislike, pray while we do it. I know
several women who felt very sorry for themselves whenever they
had ironing to do, until they learned to use that time for thanking
God for all their blessings as they smoothed the wrinkles out of
the clothes. Other women pray at bed-making time, dishwashing
time, or as they dust the furniture and floors.
As we start a new effort, we need to turn to God for guidance
and strength. Each happy event during the day can be the occasion
of a wordless prayer of gratitude and praise, — a friend’s thought-