With Fat Tuesday behind us, now we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. My kids decided since yesterday was Fat Tuesday, today is Skinny Wednesday. After I had a good chuckle, I thought what a great analogy since it is a day of fasting in the Catholic Church. Lent brings us the opportunity to remove those things and distractions of the world that can keep us from knowing God through a renewed focus on prayer, fasting, alms giving and penance.
My very first opportunity to overcome such distraction came this morning as my three year old crawled around the pew during Mass. Three year olds in church are tricky on a good day. They are not going to sit still and they often forget to use their quiet voice. My current three year old is no exception and, on top of that, he has a stubbornness that far surpasses the usual stubbornness of kids his age. So I really have to pick my battles with him because he will battle to the bitter end. As I watched him wiggle and jiggle his way through Mass, I knew today was not the day to work on church manners. He wasn't doing anything naughty, just being a little kid. Even so, he was distracting me from being able to fully engage in the Mass. So I prayed, "dear Lord, please give me the strength and patience to handle Andy without getting upset." Because it isn't really Andy that is distracting me from the Lord, it is my anger and impatience. They wedges themselves into my heart and harden it to the graces the Lord is pouring out on me at Mass and throughout my day. I am not able to receive them because I'm too busy being upset. So did I get anything out of Mass today? Absolutely. I was there in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and even if I didn't hear everything word for word, there is no better place to be. (Plus I have the Magnificat so I'll read today's readings later when I have time to reflect on them).
For our family Lenten journey, we are doing three things with the kids. First is a good deeds jar. Each time someone does a good deed, they can put a bean or noodle in the jar and then the Easter bunny will turn the beans/noodles into candy. (Thanks to Jessica for the idea). Second, we will collect our change until Easter and give it to Food for the Poor. It is amazing how much the change adds up in just a few weeks. Third, we will pray the Rosary as a family once a week. We are also making individual sacrifices, such as giving up dessert.
As the ashes were traced on my forehead this morning, the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel" were spoken. I wish you all a blessed Lent.
