The Apron

When I am cooking in the kitchen, you will find me in a apron.
Not just any apron.
I love a certain kind of apron that I bought in Lancaster County.
The old fashioned kind of apron that covers well and has pockets in the front.

I have quite a few of these aprons.
With its homespun cloth, I am transported to a simpler time.
The long ties crisscross in the back and come around the front so I can tie them.
The pocket holds my glasses, which always come off when I read or do close work.

That apron is a part of me.
My trademark, if you ask my children.
I will not cook without it.
On many occasions, especially on a baking day, I am grateful that I have it.

I am in good company.

Susana Wesley was born in 1669.
She was the 25th of 25 children.
She and her husband, Samuel, had 19 children of their own.
Nine of her children died as infants.

Susanna was the mother of both John and Charles Wesley.
Both men were evangelists and theologians.
Both men wrote great hymns of the faith that we still sing today.
Charles was the most prolific, writing over 6,000 hymns in his lifetime.

Susanna took seriously her role as mother.
She took seriously raising her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I look upon every soul under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. I am not a man nor a minister, but I spare every night to discourse with each child apart, strengthening their tiny faith in God our Savior. (Susanna Wesley)

Susanna wore aprons.
I can imagine the amount of work Susanna had to do to care for her 19 children.
Her apron was probably her mainstay.
Her apron was part of her daily routine.

Part of her daily routine in more ways than one.

Susanna’s children knew to be quiet when their mother threw her apron over her head.
This was Susanna’s private time of prayer.
Anywhere, any time, any place.
If the apron went over her head, she was having private time with the Lord.

Cynical people may remark that she was just trying to have few minutes peace.
Skeptical people might question how anyone really knows what she was doing.
Susanna knew that in order to fulfill her calling as a mother, she needed the Lord’s help.
She was a woman who prayed without ceasing, in her own private prayer closet: her apron.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues or on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:5-13)

Life is hard.
We cannot do this life alone.
We need the Lord.
We cannot even begin until we have committed our day to Him.

Martin Luther understood the importance of this truth.
I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.
Not many of us can begin our day with three hours in prayer.
But if truth were told, many struggle with even three minutes.

We have our priorities.
We make our lists.
We note the things we have to get accomplished.
But in all that planning, where is God?

Is God the genie in the sky we run to when things disintegrate?
Is God the wish granter that will give us whatever we need to make us happy?
The problem with our premise is the pronoun: I or me.
We need to change our focus; we need to change the pronoun to: YOU.

Thank YOU, Heavenly Father.
How desperately YOUR presence is needed, Father.
Where are YOU, God?
Are YOU listening, God?

YOU: the word of the prayer closet.
YOU: the word under the apron.
YOU: the focus of our life.
YOU: a prayer in and of itself.

Susanna understood that she could not possibly raise 19 children without the Lord.
What she modeled to her children under her apron was priceless.
A desperate need met in a simple way.
Praying without ceasing any time, any place.

Prayer changes things because prayer changes us.
The Sovereign God is listening before you even begin to talk to Him.
And talk to Him you must.
We cannot do this life alone.

Why would we want to?

Thank you, Father, for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. When we pray in the precious name of Your Son, You hear us and You answer. Give us creative ways to talk to You in prayer. Keep us consistent in our conversations with You. As we talk to You, let us remember to take the time to listen to You as well. Under the apron, in the car, in our beds, on a walk, You are there. Thank You for Your attention to our heart cry. How we love You. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.