Focus on Jesus: Avoiding Distractions and Finding Peace

Inspired by the Missionaries of Charity, Tina Mayeux explores ways we can be more prayerful and recollected, even while busy and distracted with family life.

Some of the most impactful moments for me before discovering my vocation to marriage and motherhood were the times spent working and praying with Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity. From washing dishes and sweeping floors in local shelters, to the hours spent in Eucharistic adoration, the simplicity and devotion of these religious sisters is profound and inspiring. Their love for Jesus and the poorest of the poor, ignited by the spark of their great foundress, is contagious, leading others around them to imitate their path of compassion and sacrifice.  

On one occasion, joining the Sisters in a Holy Hour of Adoration, I knelt quietly on the back row, amazed by their love and devotion. Without the convenience of air conditioning, the Sisters routinely opened their windows to relieve the stifling summer heat and humidity. Through the open window, the drone of passing vehicles and occasional honking of horns could be heard, a distant reminder of the busyness of ordinary life. However, the noise and bustling activity of the city hardly distracted us at all, so intent were they on their silent prayer and so palpable was their reverence and recollection. 

In family life, it is not always so easy to remain focused and prayerful. With the responsibilities of a vocation to marriage and motherhood, we often find ourselves facing countless distractions and pulled in many directions. Although loving and serving our families is our primary obligation, we are also called to nurture our relationship with Christ.

Our many duties can make it challenging for us to find time and space for prayer and reflection. When it seems like checklists and calendars dictate every moment of the day, it helps for me to remember to keep my focus on Jesus and try to call on Him as often as possible as I fulfill my duties.   

At times when I have felt the most distracted by the busy pace of family life, there are a few solutions I have tried to incorporate that have helped me find more peace and tranquility: 

Seek Simplicity by Eliminating Excesses 

First, when we begin to feel frazzled and anxious, it often helps to simplify our lives by eliminating the excesses: the things that do not help us to advance on our journey to heaven. Whether it be material possessions or obligations and items on our to-do lists, when our lives and our schedules become cluttered, it is easy to lose our focus on what is most important.  

Hang Holy Reminders in Your Home 

Placing visual and tangible reminders in the home is a beautiful way to draw our attention to spiritual things and help us to refocus our attention on Jesus. Crucifixes, holy images, and Scripture verses posted in prominent places help make our homes “domestic churches” and havens of peace. Making sacramentals such as holy water accessible to our families is another way to ward off distraction and foster peace.  

Pencil in Time with Jesus 

Because of the hectic pace of modern family life, we need scheduled prayer times to maintain peace and remain in communion with the Lord. I have found that taking time each day for personal prayer and reflection, as well as praying with my family, is necessary to help keep me on track. Gathering together for the Rosary is an ideal method of family prayer.  

Remain United with Jesus by Offering It Up 

Finally, during those days when we simply can’t escape the chaos and distractions of life, we can offer up all of our work and other activities, uniting them with the sacrifices of Jesus on the Cross and those of our Mother Mary. We know that they perfect our actions and make them more pleasing to God. With these little offerings, we can remain united with Christ, even when we are very busy.  

Like the ambient sounds of those cars and buses driving by the Sisters’ chapel, our activities and the noise of our environments can, at times, keep us from concentrating on what is truly precious and consequential — our relationship with Jesus. 

What helps you avoid distraction and remain focused on Christ? 

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Copyright 2025 Tina Mayeux
Images: (top, center) iStock, licensed for use by Holy Cross Family Ministries; (bottom) Canva