Have You Folded Any Socks Lately? by Gail Purath

When we left the restaurant where we'd had lunch with our daughter and her children, four-year-old Gracie begged to come with us. It was hard to say no, but we remained strong. We had too much to do that day to let the disappointment in her little freckled face persuade us.

An hour later while we were standing in the plumbing department of Lowes, I got a call on my cell phone. It was from Gracie, and she was so excited she was slurring her words. All I could make out was she had learned to do something new.

“Well, I must have one of the smartest granddaughters around!” I told Gracie even though I couldn’t understand. When our daughter got on the phone, she explained that they’d been doing laundry and she’d taught Gracie how to roll a pair of socks into a little bundle. As soon as Gracie mastered this task, she said, “Where’s the phone! I have to tell Grammy!”

I can’t tell you how honored it made me feel to know that Gracie wanted to share this event with me. The fact that sock folding is somewhat insignificant actually made Gracie’s call more meaningful. It means she understands how much I love her, and how pleased I am to hear about everything that’s going on in her life. If it’s important to her, she knows it’s important to me.

As I thought through this incident, I couldn’t help but relate it to my relationship with God. God knows everything; I don’t need to share anything with Him. But knowing something is not the same as hearing it from one of your children. God actually enjoys hearing my thoughts, questions, sorrows, disappointments, joys, and requests, no matter how insignificant they are to everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 6:16-18 tells us to pray continually, but what does this really mean? I’ve heard it described several ways:

• It means that prayer is automatic, almost like breathing; our first response in every situation.
• It means God is our “default mode” so whenever we are not speaking to someone else, our thoughts turn to Him.
• It means living in a state of constant and complete dependence upon God.
• It means praying whether we feel like it or not, any time, any place, with or without speaking aloud.

We have to learn to pray continually—it doesn’t come naturally. 
I’ve known people who actually set the hourly alarm on their watch so they can remember God every hour they are awake.

The thing Gracie showed me about praying continually is the way it must bless God. When I include Him in the ordinary things of life, I imagine He feels like I felt when Gracie called—like a loved and respected friend, not just a faithful caregiver.

I’ll ask you the same question that I’ve been asking myself the last few weeks: “Have you folded any socks lately?”

God is eager to hear about it!

To read Gail's bio, go to About Us page and check out her one-minute devotional site for women: Bible Love Notes.
This devotion was first published on Crossroad's Communicators' Weblog in May 2010.