--- title: "Small Steps: It Only Takes a Minute" description: Barb Szyszkiewicz shares with us that it doesn't take a lot of time to make a true difference in your prayer life. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/09/14/small-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute#) # Small Steps: It Only Takes a Minute Sep 14, 2013 7:00:57 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![Small Steps for Catholic Moms](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/0004675_small_steps_for_catholic_moms_your_daily_call_to_think_pray_and_act1-285x400-4.jpeg?width=285&height=400&name=0004675_small_steps_for_catholic_moms_your_daily_call_to_think_pray_and_act1-285x400-4.jpeg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/0004675_small_steps_for_catholic_moms_your_daily_call_to_think_pray_and_act1-3.jpeg) Small Steps for Catholic Moms *Editor’s note: Today, we continue our weeklong celebration of the publication of [Small Steps for Catholic Moms: Your Daily Call to Think, Pray and Act](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714266/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594714266&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom), the newest installment in the CatholicMom.com Books partnership with Ave Maria Press. Today, Barb Szyszkiewicz shares with us that it doesn't take a lot of time to make a true difference in your prayer life. LMH* Whoever invented the phrase “if you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy” never had to deal with a colicky infant, a tempestuous toddler and a six-year-old who was supposed to be at his soccer game ten minutes ago. Throw in dinner, the laundry and that sticky spill on the kitchen floor, and you might despair of ever getting in some quality prayer time. Surely, though, you can find a minute. And a minute is just about all you’ll need to take in a daily dose of spiritual encouragement. *[Small Steps for Catholic Moms](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714266/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594714266&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom)* is a daily devotional designed to help overwhelmed moms find moments of prayer in their day-to-day routine. Each day, you’ll find prompts to THINK, PRAY and ACT. Quotes from Scripture or from the saints fill the THINK sections—and there are many opportunities to hear from some of the not-so-famous saints as well as the ones whose names are more well-known. I found myself browsing through the book to check out the quotes, which are wonderful meditation starters. A short prayer follows each daily quote. Think of these prayers more as prayer starters that will lead you to the next step:  action. You’ll find some of these actions quite challenging, but definitely worth it. Most of the actions suggested in this book require little to no advance planning or materials, so you’ll be able to carry them out without feeling overburdened. It’s been a long time since I had a needy infant or sleep-averse toddler in my house; while my children are older, there is plenty to keep me busy. I often find myself falling into the trap of using rote prayer (on auto-pilot, unfortunately). *[Small Steps for Catholic Moms](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714266/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594714266&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom)* has inspired me to make time for more personal prayer. Authors Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss have assigned each month a virtue; joy, simplicity, gentleness and gratitude are among the virtues explored in this book. But don’t think that you must wait until October to explore patience if that’s what speaks to your heart right now. Although this is a page-a-day devotional, you can pick it up anywhere and benefit from these short prayer experiences. Let *[Small Steps for Catholic Moms](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714266/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594714266&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom)* set the tone for your prayer life as you take a minute each day to soak in the wisdom of the saints. ***[Order Small Steps for Catholic Moms and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594714266/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594714266&linkCode=as2&tag=catholicmomcom)*** ***Copyright 2013 Barb Szyszkiewicz*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F09%2F14%2Fsmall-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F09%2F14%2Fsmall-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F09%2F14%2Fsmall-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Small%20Steps%3A%20It%20Only%20Takes%20a%20Minute) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F09%2F14%2Fsmall-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2013%2F09%2F14%2Fsmall-steps-it-only-takes-a-minute%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Feast on Shrimp Scampi Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/11/01/meatless-friday-feast-on-shrimp-scampi) [ Meatless Friday: Grilled-Cheese Bar Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/05/02/meatless-friday-grilled-cheese-bar) [ Book Notes: The Gift Counselor Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/11/19/book-notes-the-gift-counselor) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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