What Would Jesus Do?

The children and I were talking, today, about Lent.  They are fascinated by the idea that Jesus went away to the desert, but they ask me, over and over again, why?  He went to pray, but why did he have to do it in the desert?  I reminded them that at that time Jesus was getting to be well known, and everywhere he went there were crowds of people around him.  They wanted to be near  him, to listen to him, to be healed by him.  Some wanted to question him, shout at him, or accuse him.  He was working constantly.  It was good work.  It was important work.  It was God’s work.

And he took a break from it.

He knew that he had more work yet to do, and he knew that in order to have the strength to do it, he needed time away from everyone, from everything, to pray, fast, be with the Father.

It occurs to me that that maybe part of the reason that many of us mothers struggle with the praying and fasting part of Lent is that we do not have a desert.

Once a month I have a babysitter so that I can go to an Evening of Recollection at my parish.  This is a time with Benediction and Adoration, and some talks by a priest.  It is like a mini-retreat.  It is my time away, close to God, so that I can be fueled for the very busy, very good work that I have to do each day.

My toddler hates it when I leave, and he used to cry, and I would feel guilty.  My husband sometimes gets home early, and I miss spending the time with him, and I feel guilty.  Today I was reminded, though, that Jesus gave us an example in this, the time away, and his followers must have been missing him and wanting his help, but he knew that he needed a retreat into the desert.

I can make an even smaller “mini-retreat” each day when I use some part of my afternoon for personal prayer, or I get up early to spend time with my bible before the children wake up, or I go to an early mass.

I am building up the courage to ask my husband to support my taking a proper retreat, four days away from the family for quiet prayer and reflection, to be with the Lord and return strengthened.

How do you balance your good work with meditative prayer time?