Why do I have a detailed checklist of minor home improvement projects which I’m diligently completing? We’re planning to put our house on the market soon and I want it to sparkle.

In the past few weeks, I’ve pressure washed, dusted, cleaned out, painted, and repaired many of those little things I was willing to live with before I thought of selling. Some of those projects have led me to new tasks I hadn’t noticed before.

While getting tools from the garage, I discovered a field mouse nest. Carefully built, it was a little natural wonder. Thankfully, it was empty and appeared newly constructed. But the nest meant I needed to add something else to my list -- cleaning out the garage in case the mouse had neighbors.

In our morning prayer, Saint Philaret says: 

Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.

Is Saint Philaret writing about summoning the energy to clean out the garage?  Yes, our everyday work has meaning in God’s eyes, but this prayer encompasses the fatigue brought by many other things as well.

We experience weariness in our emotions, our minds, and our bodies caused by many things on many days. But that weariness causes us to rest, to slow down, and maybe listen to the Lord in a peaceful place away from our hustling activity. 

God does grant us strength to bear what we must bear, moment by moment, as we trust in Him. I’m trusting in God to help me with much more than my checklist, I’m seeking His guidance in knowing when, where, and if we should move. 

 I’m cleaning with caution, wondering if something unexpected will scamper away into a dark hole. I’m fighting my own thoughts, keeping them out of well-worn ruts of fear and worry. I have much to pray about while I’m swiping baseboards and weeding the walkway.

Each task can become prayerful if we work with our hands and pray with our hearts. This connection with the Lord helps us bear unexpected rodent nests whether they are physical nests or invasive troubling thoughts nesting in our minds. Having a peaceful spirit helps us work with persistence in place of resistance.

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray.
And you, yourself, pray in me.
Amen.