Mary Cassatt, Breakfast in Bed, American Impressionist
"It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for the next morning, repacking into their proper place the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if where as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on top, beautifully aired, are spread your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on." (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, pg 12).
Prayer: Oh Blessed Virgin Mother, please clean the interior of our mind and our hearts tonight. Let our sin and evil passions be erased through the power of your prayer and your immaculate heart. May our heads and hearts be full of much "prettier thoughts" tomorrow.
