A few weekends ago, my husband and I and our three young children attended our very first ever family retreat. It was a beautiful weekend of prayer, community and reflection put on by families, for families.

The Lord blessed us with so many beautiful moments of recreation- kayaking, playing mini golf, exploring the grounds with friends, and creating artwork, just to name a few. There were also some incredibly moving spiritual moments- sitting in Adoration with my daughter and watching her bring drawing after drawing up to the altar to give to Jesus, hearing my son sing in worship as He sat before the monstrance in the group adoration night, and praying over my godson in the stillness of the chapel as a way to celebrate and commemorate his baptismal birthday. My heart is still pondering it all.

Strewn among all of this beauty and goodness were interruptions. LOTS of them. Because, that IS the essence of family life with little people running around. Sometimes bathroom breaks are needed, and then needed again, five minutes later. Sometimes squeals and wiggles cannot be contained- even at the most pivotal moments of the Mass. Sometimes emotions erupt after a night of little sleep in a new place, running too fast results in scraped knees and demands for band aids, and boundaries must be pushed, and limits tested. (also will we ever not fight over who gets to press the elevator button?)

It happened all weekend long. Prayer was interrupted. Sleep was interrupted. Adult conversations were interrupted. And meals? You guessed it. Interrupted.

In a different time and space, I would have been bound by frustration, perhaps even desolation. Praise God it was here, on retreat, surrounded by many other families experiencing the same thing and leaders and Clergy who responded with only kindness, that God saw my chaos and said in His infinitely loving way, “come anyways. stay anyways. your place is here. Come AS YOU ARE (not as you think you should be)” and because of the grace abounding around me, I was able to say, wearily but trusting, “okay.”

And then the Lord asked me to consider how interruptions, so often seen by us as merely frustrating and inconvenient, can actually be very holy opportunities to minister.

Even Jesus’ own ministry was filled with them; the sick, tormented and desperate seeking Him out, reaching out to touch His clothing, places and people not ‘on the schedule’ that popped up everywhere He went. Rather than sigh, scoff, or try to avoid, Jesus stepped into those moments with those people and gave the undeniably abundant gift of His presence. And I can do the same.

When my child decides he or she simply ‘can’t hold it’ after we’ve already buckled everyone into the car.

When my toddler’s melt down happens mid phone conversation with a friend.

When the cup (inevitably) spills, the child wakes in the middle of the night, the plans are postponed or canceled altogether because sickness, emotions, or plain old unforeseen LIFE happens, I can choose to see what’s outside of my control as a chance to choose holiness.

To choose patience, to choose humor, to choose death to self without complaint…to step into the raw, messy, murky human moment and impart grace, forgiveness, compassion, or help.

I heard it proclaimed in recent times and it’s been echoing in my mind ever since – “so that nothing goes to waste.”

That’s how it works in the Kingdom of God. No moment, no interruption, no setback ever has to be a “waste” of my time. The God is working out all things for my good is TRULY doing, just that, working out ALL things for His glory, even those things which, at first glance, seem to be a distraction from all the “doing” I’m trying to cram into this life. When offered to Him, even the most mundane or inconvenient can draw me closer to His heart. Even deviations from “the plan” or “the prayer” can be opportunities to experience His goodness, and to CHOOSE that over my own frustrations.

Be assured that nothing is outside of His reach- no worry too insignificant, or space too small- there is nothing He cannot redeem. So I challenge you friend, especially in the upcoming Advent season that will no doubt be filled with interruptions and distractions- give those little irritations, aches, and unforeseen circumstances to the God who wastes nothing, and watch what He does with even the smallest bit of your faith.

And truly- It takes eyes of faith to see, and a heart set in the posture of humility to recognize that God’s presence is what makes holiness. It is He who makes spaces sacred. It is He who makes people saints. It is He who gives suffering purpose.

and It is He who can take the interruptions, and make them holy.