Do Ordinary Things

After an emotional Monday evening, which included an impromptu visit to the church, I hauled my brood to daily Mass on Tuesday morning. Nevermind that it’s been 7 weeks since we experienced a “normal” week around our house and we desperately need some rhythm back in our days. An impromptu shift in “regular” homeschool plans for Mass is always worth it.

We needed Jesus.

And if we’re being honest with ourselves, no thing is a better “reset” to life than returning to the Lord. I’m not say this as a platitude or some holier-than-thou “I know it all” piece of Catholic mom-blogger wisdom.

I don’t know it all, but I know Who does Know It All, and I trust Him to make all things new when I’ve let them fall into a disorganized heap.

So that Tuesday we went to daily Mass, because my heart was a disorganized heap of broken pieces, scattered ideas, poorly prioritized to-dos. I needed Jesus.

It turned out to be the memorial of Pope Saint Leo the Great. The priest–he’s a big fan of the saints and always has great stories to share about them in his homilies on feast days–told us about Saint Leo’s peace-making skills and legacy that earned him the title “Great”. I never knew any of that; it was fascinating.

It was the ending of the homily that really struck me: “Saints aren’t people who do great things. Saints are people who do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.”

Let me share that again:

Saints are people who do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.

No matter your particular state in life, no matter your specific vocation, do the ordinary things! Do them in extraordinary ways to please the Lord.

I’ve been sitting with this idea for over a week now. Truthfully, I’ve probably been trying to live this for most of my life. I mean, I want to be a saint but I sure don’t want to be a martyr. There has to be another way.

It’s the ordinary way.

Turns out several saints are great examples of this. I asked my priest for more thoughts about living holy, ordinary lives. He shared great quotes, including:

We are seldom called to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things with extraordinary attention and enthusiasm.

Saint Francis de Sales

He also some perspective about Saint Thérèse of Lisieux’s “Little Way”. Her small and often hidden acts “did not eliminate heroism, but rather, brought it within the reach of the poor in spirit. The smallest acts of love which the world deemed to be nothing . . . led her to the highest heights of sanctity” (Father C). 

So how to make use of ordinary moments?

Here are some ways I try to make my mountains of laundry and piles of dirt to be swept into extraordinary-ordinary things.

• Thank God for washing machines and the brilliant minds who engineered them, so that I can toss our smelly clothes in and not have to scrub them by hand.
• Scrub the nasty bathrooms with the loving intent to make a cleaner space, not just with grumbling about boys who miss the toilet and leave icky spots on the floor.
• Take my time to complete tasks to the best of my ability rather than speeding through carelessly to the next-best thing.
• Look my kids in the eye as often as possible when they’re speaking
• Pray before making/answering a call I anticipate will be challenging
• Offer my runs or any fitness to the Lord
• Pray a Morning Offering to give my whole day to Him
• Apologize quickly for speaking harshly or impatiently

Turns out there are so many ways! This list and the possibilities are endless.

There’s no time like now to pursue holiness in our ordinary days. And when it’s all surrendered to the Lord, He can do great things through us–even make us saints.

How are you living your ordinary life in a way that glorifies God? Let’s chat and encourage each other.