A New Under-the-Covers Morning Routine

Don’t you just love the idea behind the rosary? My granny was Catholic and she taught me the rosary prayers and I loved hearing her recite them as she felt each bead. When she handled her sacred strand she did it with such humility and she treated it like it was a gift from God.

I’m not Catholic, but I’ve always loved the idea of using a tangible item to remind us to be thankful, to be joyful and to love and praise God for our blessings.

Who thought "this little piggy" could bring you thankfulness?

That’s how I came up with the idea to use my feet like a rosary! Why not? So combining the This Little Piggy Went to Market poem we perpetrated on our kids and really makes no sense when you think about it, I decided to start a new morning routine using my toes while I’m still snuggled under the covers.

Here’s what I came up with, and I’ll tell you what happened after I did my rosary toes.

Starting with my big toe of my right foot, I held each toe the same way Granny held her rosary beads, and said the following:

After I did the toes on my right foot, I did the same thing with my left ones. When I finished with them, the thought came, ‘Why stop there?’ So I took a hold of both my feet (I was still under the covers) and I thanked them for all the places they’ve taken me and where they’ll take me today. Then I moved my hands to my ankles and thanked God for the miracle of swivel. It made me be happy.

Then I put my hands on my knees and blessed them for their astounding ability to allow me to bend. I imagined what it’d be like to walk around stiff legged and was filled with love for these little marvels.

Next I moved my hands to my hips and praised them for allowing me to have such a cushioned seat and that I haven’t had to replace them as so many have these days. Next, I put my hands on my stomach where all those organs work, knowing that what goes on in there is a complete mystery to me, and I’m so thankful that it knows what to do with what I eat and drink.

Next I moved to my breasts and thanked them for being there for my children and for being healthy throughout my life in spite of the torture of mammograms. I felt my heart beating and my lungs breathing and was reminded of this precious gift of life I’ve been given.

Then I took my elbows and thanked them in the same way I’d thanked my knees. Without them I’d be stiff-armed and somebody’d have to feed and dress me. My wrists came next, then my fingers and knuckles.

When my hands came to my head, it was like coming to the cross. Are there any words to thank God for our eyes that see, ears that hear, a tongue that speaks and tastes, a nose that smells and a mind that assists in making it all possible?

My body rosary took me five minutes and it has been four hours since I did this new, undercover routine and I’m still giddy with joy. It’s a feeling similar to the one I got when I was given painkillers when my back went out. Oh, I didn’t thank my back! Well, I’ll do that tomorrow morning.

I hope you’ll give this new under-the-covers routine a try. You’ll not only be moved to praise your miraculous body and be thankful, you’ll get a good stretch and you’ll have set a positive tone for the entire day not allowing those devilish negative thoughts that can attempt to creep in and pull you from your joy! It will become a habit and help you find peace.

Love,

P.S. My newest book, The JOY of Being Disorganized, is all about finding peace and joy no matter how cluttered your home is and no matter how hard you have tried to declutter.