I'm currently reading Barbara Brown Taylor's book, An Altar in the World. Today I read the chapter on incarnation, called "The Practice of Wearing Skin." Besides many thoughts about the holiness of our bodies, it contains a paragraph about laundry. This passage spoke to me because washing clothes is one of my primary job functions here at home.
She writes: "Hanging his laundry on the line becomes a labor of love. I hang each T-shirt like a prayer flag, shaking it first to get the wrinkles out and then pinning it to the line with two wooden clothespins."
I feel as if I do laundry all day every day. It is a never-ending process, and though I don't mind it, I often don't think of it as spiritual. So this morning when I was folding Adam's shirts, I shook them out like a prayer flag and thanked God for all our blessings.
This summer, Rev. Nancy Allen taught a Bible study called Holy in the Ordinary. It focused on reverence in our daily lives. In that study, she played this song for us and copied the lyrics. I have referred back to it many times and thought other mothers might get something out of it.
The Gathering of Spirits
Carrie Newcomer
2002 Lyrics
Holy As A Day Is Spent
Holy is the dish and drain
The soap and sink, the cup and plate
And the warm wool socks, and the cold white tile
Showerheads and good dry towels
And frying eggs sound like psalms
With a bit of salt measured in my palm
It’s all a part of a sacrament
As holy as a day is spent
Holy is the busy street
And cars that boom with passion’s beat
And the check out girl, Counting change
And the hands that shook my hands today
Hymns of geese fly overhead
And stretch their wings like their parents did
Blessed be the dog
That runs in her sleep
The catch that wild and elusive thing
Holy is a familiar room and the quiet moments in the afternoon
And folding sheets like folding hands
To pray as only laundry can
I’m letting go of all I fear
Like autumn leaves of earth and air
For summer came and summer went
As holy as a day is spent
Holy is the place I stand
To give whatever small good I can
The empty page, the open book
Redemption everywhere I look
Unknowingly we slow our pace
In the shade of unexpected grace
With grateful smiles and sad lament
As holy as a day is spent
And morning light sings “providence”
As holy as a day is spent
Carrie Newcomer 2001
Here's a place where Sarah writes what's on her heart and mind for whomever will read it. Sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's little pieces of life that I'm grateful for. Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Post-Thanksgiving Post
Since my last post was all potty-talk, I decided to post a listing of my blessings. This is by no means a complete list.
On Sunday mornings, I am thankful for my church. My entire family is accepted and loved and we are constantly met with grace. I am also thankful for the lifelong tradition of Sunday naps. We take the day of rest seriously around here and usually stay home and spend time together after church.
On Mondays I am thankful for my husband, who goes to work so I don't have to. When I was teaching, Monday was a day of anxiety for me, but now I enjoy it. Monday is the day of catching up for us. On Mondays I am thankful for a working washer and dryer.
On Monday nights, I am thankful for my prayer group. They accept me as I am and have helped me out in countless ways countless times. I am grateful that I can tell them that I've had a poopy week, haven't done any Bible study, have yelled at my kids, and they love me all the same.
On Tuesday mornings, I am thankful for Ms. Carol's music class. Ms. Carol takes rules and procedures seriously and I am grateful for that. She insists on the children raising their hands and following rules. I am quite laidback by nature, so I appreciate the structure and formality that she provides to my children. Of course they also have fun in her class.
On Tuesday afternoons, I am thankful for our zoo membership. We can pop into the Fort Worth Zoo whenever we feel like it and for whatever length of time is convenient. I love taking the kids to the monkey house and letting them observe chimpanzees for as long as they like.
On Wednesday mornings, I am thankful for our library. I am thankful that we can walk to it, and often do. I am also thankful for each and every employee. We are always treated with courtesy and grace. My children and I feel quite at home and I'm not ashamed to ask for what I need, even if it's a roll of tape to repair my shoe.
On Wednesday afternoons, I am thankful for my husband that comes home for lunch and then leaves before naptime. I'm usually exhausted after hauling the Radio Flyer wagon full of books and kids to the library and back.
On Thursday mornings, I am thankful for my grandfather. He's 86 now and still lives alone. He doesn't mind that I invade his house weekly with two enthusiastic children who interrupt his silence and routine. He is always doing sneaky and thoughtful things for us. He's constantly "accidentally" buying too much breakfast sausage or corndogs.
On Thursday afternoons, I am thankful for the homeless ministry at our church. It has been such a blessing to us to be able to put a face on homelessness in Fort Worth and do our small part to help. Our church provides a safe and loving environment where my children adopt the ladies and call them friends.
On Friday mornings, I am thankful for our museum membership. The kids learn about the world every time we enter the building. From the planetarium show with Big Bird to the Children's museum with X-ray charts, they explore learning in ways I can't do at home.
On Friday afternoons, I am thankful for payday and coupons that help our money stretch.
On Saturday morning, I am thankful for late sleepers and catching up on laundry and Bible study.
On Saturday afternoon I am thankful for our two dependable vehicles that get us from place to place. I'm thankful for our many friends who have birthday parties on Saturdays. Sometimes I'm thankful we don't have any friends with parties that day.
Every day I am thankful for our friends. We are blessed beyond measure. Even though Thanksgiving was last week, around here we give thanks every day.
On Sunday mornings, I am thankful for my church. My entire family is accepted and loved and we are constantly met with grace. I am also thankful for the lifelong tradition of Sunday naps. We take the day of rest seriously around here and usually stay home and spend time together after church.
On Mondays I am thankful for my husband, who goes to work so I don't have to. When I was teaching, Monday was a day of anxiety for me, but now I enjoy it. Monday is the day of catching up for us. On Mondays I am thankful for a working washer and dryer.
On Monday nights, I am thankful for my prayer group. They accept me as I am and have helped me out in countless ways countless times. I am grateful that I can tell them that I've had a poopy week, haven't done any Bible study, have yelled at my kids, and they love me all the same.
On Tuesday mornings, I am thankful for Ms. Carol's music class. Ms. Carol takes rules and procedures seriously and I am grateful for that. She insists on the children raising their hands and following rules. I am quite laidback by nature, so I appreciate the structure and formality that she provides to my children. Of course they also have fun in her class.
On Tuesday afternoons, I am thankful for our zoo membership. We can pop into the Fort Worth Zoo whenever we feel like it and for whatever length of time is convenient. I love taking the kids to the monkey house and letting them observe chimpanzees for as long as they like.
On Wednesday mornings, I am thankful for our library. I am thankful that we can walk to it, and often do. I am also thankful for each and every employee. We are always treated with courtesy and grace. My children and I feel quite at home and I'm not ashamed to ask for what I need, even if it's a roll of tape to repair my shoe.
On Wednesday afternoons, I am thankful for my husband that comes home for lunch and then leaves before naptime. I'm usually exhausted after hauling the Radio Flyer wagon full of books and kids to the library and back.
On Thursday mornings, I am thankful for my grandfather. He's 86 now and still lives alone. He doesn't mind that I invade his house weekly with two enthusiastic children who interrupt his silence and routine. He is always doing sneaky and thoughtful things for us. He's constantly "accidentally" buying too much breakfast sausage or corndogs.
On Thursday afternoons, I am thankful for the homeless ministry at our church. It has been such a blessing to us to be able to put a face on homelessness in Fort Worth and do our small part to help. Our church provides a safe and loving environment where my children adopt the ladies and call them friends.
On Friday mornings, I am thankful for our museum membership. The kids learn about the world every time we enter the building. From the planetarium show with Big Bird to the Children's museum with X-ray charts, they explore learning in ways I can't do at home.
On Friday afternoons, I am thankful for payday and coupons that help our money stretch.
On Saturday morning, I am thankful for late sleepers and catching up on laundry and Bible study.
On Saturday afternoon I am thankful for our two dependable vehicles that get us from place to place. I'm thankful for our many friends who have birthday parties on Saturdays. Sometimes I'm thankful we don't have any friends with parties that day.
Every day I am thankful for our friends. We are blessed beyond measure. Even though Thanksgiving was last week, around here we give thanks every day.
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