Prayer Life An Afterthought? Don’t Be Afraid To Be Human

By Heather Voccola

Prayer is supposed to be our conversation with God, and I’m sure he doesn’t want it to be as hard as we make it.

Some days, I have a tendency to mope around the house because I get caught up in trying, yet again, to figure out the plan God has for me. When I was a child, I would never have told you that being a divorced mom of two daughters was something I aspired to. Eleven years ago, however, that’s exactly what happened. Sometimes I still struggle with the “why me” questions and if I’m feeling particularly vulnerable, I admit to becoming a mope.

Then, something big happens – like the recent tragedy in Orlando or the tragedy in Newtown – and I take a step back and wonder what in the world I have to complain about! Thanks be to God, my family members are all in good health, we have a warm house, enough food, I’ve got a job I love and can pay my bills. It’s a reminder to me to look at things with a more grateful perspective and stop obsessing over the things I can’t seem to figure out.

It reminds me to think back on what my old spiritual director once said – When you don’t know what to do or can’t figure out the plan God has for you, get up every day and be the best Catholic that you can be.

Sound advice, this. But why is it so difficult?

Don’t Beat Yourself Up!

It’s funny because every day I wake up with the same intention – This is the day I’m going to get a handle on my prayer life. This is the week I’m going to make it to Adoration and daily Mass.

By noon, my morning thoughts are forgotten and on most days, I should be taking an inventory of my list for confession!  I asked a friend recently – why does no-one tell you that living is hard? It really is hard.

It’s certainly important to work prayer into your daily life, but you’ve got to put it into context. I recently listened to a talk by a very good priest that reminded me working women aren’t supposed to pray the same way a Sister would pray. And single folks don’t pray the same way a single mom with two kids would pray.

Prayer is supposed to be our conversation with God and I’m sure He doesn’t want it to be as hard as we make it.

Rather than beating ourselves up because we don’t have what we think is the perfect prayer life,