Last week I attended a ‘prayer shower’ for a friend expecting her second child. Unlike a traditional baby shower, the focus wasn’t on gifts. Instead, we simply gathered at a local park, laid down a few blankets, and prayed the Rosary while children played.
The morning was organized by a mutual friend, whose sister hosted a ‘prayer shower’ for one of her girlfriends. How beautiful to see such an obvious gift of the Holy Ghost grow and blossom from person to person.
This is usually where I would regale you with a ‘how to’ on hosting a prayer shower. But there were no decorations, no drinks, no food, no party games. Just good friends, Rosary beads, and heartfelt love and prayers for the pregnant mama.
God’s place in celebrations
I left that prayerful, peaceful morning thinking about how easy it is to loose focus on the big picture when celebrating life’s special moments. We get so caught up in party planning that faith and prayer is an afterthought.
I am the queen of being distracted by the ‘to dos’ of celebrations. Whether orchestrating my kids’ birthdays, Mother’s or Father’s Day, anniversaries, or…you get the idea…I find myself harried with all of the things I just have to do to get ready.
Clean the house, tidy the backyard, prepare a menu, wrap gifts, organize party favors, set a beautiful table. The list goes on and on. Before long I am I like Martha in Luke’s Gospel, whirling around the house trying to get everything done. Meanwhile, I forget to connect with and pray for the very person for whom the event was planned in the first place.
In essence, I completely forget about God’s place in the celebration. It’s no wonder that I often feel like a spent mess when the event is over and the dust settles.
Place that in contrast to the beautiful simplicity of the prayer shower, which placed God at the center. With the ‘to dos’ out the window, we could relax together and open the door for God’s grace. Instead of distracted Marthas we were like her sister Mary, sitting peacefully at Jesus’ feet, absorbing the moment and being fully present.
The beauty of placing God at the center of your celebration is that it will simplify planning, not make it more complicated. Organizing an event like a prayer shower (and it doesn’t just have to be for pregnant mamas – think milestone birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc.) places the focus on faith and frees you from the busyness that tends to overcome our good intensions.
More importantly, centering your event on God brings His grace and peace to the person of honor, guests…and you too! You won’t feel like a spent mess, I promise. Instead your cup will be filled.
