While I’m embarrassed to admit it I barely daven. I mumble brachos and if the kids aren’t too wild Shema and Shemoneh Esrei. It’s hard to find the time and quiet but when I need something badly enough I make it happen. The problem is that tefillah is just not a priority for me. I know intellectually how wrong this attitude is but what should I do practically to motivate myself to daven? How can I make it work when the kids seem to cry every time I open a siddur?

Mrs. Tamar Sokol

I would start by just talking to Hashem. A rosh kollel once came to address my students on the topic of emunah and he advised them to work on their emunah by davening for the small things. If you need shoes for example ask Hashem to make you successful finding the size and color you need at a price you can afford. When you are successful you’ll connect the dots and attribute your success to Him strengthening your emunah.

It is so easy at the blessed stage of life at which you find yourself to be swamped by the technical details of moving everyone in and out of their clothing carpools supper baths bedtime.… It’s difficult to focus on bigger things. But every moment of every day our successes great and small are in the hands of the Ribono shel Olam. 

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