Date Night

Date night: a time to reconnect by talking, listening and enjoying each other’s company.

I’m a sub at the perpetual adoration chapel at our parish during the midnight to 6 a.m. window; I fill in every few weeks for a regular adorer from the “graveyard shift.” Yes, sometimes I’m initially taken back when my alarm goes off at 1:43 a.m. (just enough time to arrive promptly at 2 a.m.), then I remember: “I have a date with Jesus!”

Though the timing may seem less-than-desirable, it works for us. The benefits of this valuable prayer time far outweigh being a little tired the next day (and I do go back to bed).

In the busyness of motherhood, I often feel short on prayer time—and when I do make time to pray during the day, I can find myself distracted. My mind wanders from a “Hail Mary” to something like:

“Does Quinn have clean uniform pants for school tomorrow?”
“I forgot to call the tree trimming guy. Again.”
“Did I take the chicken out of the freezer?”

But at 2:00 in the morning, my mind is cleared—and where could I possibly need to run off to at that hour? It’s a time when I can truly give Christ the undivided attention he deserves.

More than once during this time in His Real Presence in the wee quiet hours of the morning, I’ve received a very clear message. It might be an answer to an unresolved question, a distinct reminder of an area where I need to reprioritize, and every now and then, He even provides something as simple as a lede for a story I’ve been struggling with. (Very important: write it down. Right away.)

Other perks of these date nights: I don’t need to arrange a babysitter, make a reservation, or figure out what to wear. During Lent, I plan to increase our number of date nights as I prepare for Easter.

Thank you Lord for this special time together to talk, listen and enjoy each other’s company. I’m grateful for the quiet, clarity and comfort… in the wee hours of the night.

“You must also be aware, that in a quarter of an hour’s prayer spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, you will perhaps gain more than in all the spiritual exercise of the day.” —St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori (in his book “The Holy Eucharist”)

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