The sacred quality of the repetitive, sometimes tedious work of early childcare—feeding, changing, soothing—as devotional practice comparable to Rabia's spiritual disciplines.
Rabia's spiritual practice was marked by intense devotion—prayer, vigil, fasting, tears—all aimed at deepening her love relationship with the divine. Early motherhood involves equally intense devotion of a different kind: the repetitive, embodied practice of meeting a dependent being's needs. This concept elevates caregiving from obligatory task to spiritual discipline. Each diaper change is an opportunity to practice presence. Each night waking is an invitation to surrender control. Each meal offered is an act of pure service. When a parent recognizes caregiving as devotional practice rather than burden or identity, the quality of presence transforms. Rabia taught that loving God meant showing up, again and again, without complaint or calculation. A parent tending an infant at 3 a.m. without resentment embodies this same devotional spirit. The repetition—which exhausts those who experience it as mere obligation—becomes a meditation for those who practice it as devotion. The child, absorbing the parent's spiritual attitude toward service, learns that being cared for is not incidental but sacred, and that the parent's love is not contingent on feeling good but rooted in commitment.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
Explore related journeys or tell Peri what you're working through.