Here we are in the Lenten season already.
We thought we just finished Christmas.
How can it already be Lent?
We missed Fat Tuesday, when they have sausages and pancakes at Church. And the other denomination's Chocolate Tuesday. We missed the Ash Wednesday service and didn't get ashes. Did you know that the ashes come from burning the palms we carried at Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem just before his crucifixion? Pretty triumphant? No one had figured out that he didn't come to rule, but to serve.
So without food and ashes, we unexpectedly dove into Lent.
Lent traditionally meant no sweets, no meat. Only fish and crackers.
(I'm making up the crackers part)
We usually tried to give up something special. The sweets thing ultimately proved unsuccessful. Chocolate? Same thing.
How about cake?
Nah, my birthday always appears in the middle of Lent. I'm too selfish to give up my birthday cake.
Several times we tried to add something instead of giving something up. Like Bible reading. We usually had a really good start! A couple of days later? Nah. Well you get the picture.
We thought we just finished Christmas.
How can it already be Lent?
We missed Fat Tuesday, when they have sausages and pancakes at Church. And the other denomination's Chocolate Tuesday. We missed the Ash Wednesday service and didn't get ashes. Did you know that the ashes come from burning the palms we carried at Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem just before his crucifixion? Pretty triumphant? No one had figured out that he didn't come to rule, but to serve.
So without food and ashes, we unexpectedly dove into Lent.
Lent traditionally meant no sweets, no meat. Only fish and crackers.
(I'm making up the crackers part)
We usually tried to give up something special. The sweets thing ultimately proved unsuccessful. Chocolate? Same thing.
How about cake?
Nah, my birthday always appears in the middle of Lent. I'm too selfish to give up my birthday cake.
Several times we tried to add something instead of giving something up. Like Bible reading. We usually had a really good start! A couple of days later? Nah. Well you get the picture.
We're WEAK!
We're whinny, "I dowanna eat crackers!" "I wanna eat caaake."
Truly, it's healthy to cut down on sweets, especially considering the extremes to which we personally go to get sugar into our bellies. Giving up ALL sweets has been hopeless but trying to eat less couldn't hurt.
Church has little day-by-day books for Lent this year. So, even though we're late, we decided to try it. The reading for the 1st day of Lent:
"Jesus came to save us from guilt and fear."
What?
I thought we were sinners and wretches. Well, we are, I think, but maybe guilt and fear are behind the wretchedness. Maybe that's what God grieves over. Maybe His heart breaks to see us so miserable.
And maybe loving ourselves and others is our salvation.
What a concept.
That guy Jesus had some awesome ideas, huh?
My guilt comes with grouching and criticising:
"I'm just joking, my sweet little bratties."
Some joke.
"I'm just teasing, little things."
Some kind of love.
Sooo, we're going to try to give it up...
Give up guilt and fear.
Got rid of some guilt last night by saying sorry about criticizing and grumping at my loved one. Got rid of some fear by deciding to start trusting my offspring in their decisions. With God's help, I'll keep at it. Maybe it could become a habit.
I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm missing the sweets, but good heavens! Jesus missed the sweets and all the rest of it during the 40 days in the desert.
You'd think I could do this one little thing. Jeez.
Truly, it's healthy to cut down on sweets, especially considering the extremes to which we personally go to get sugar into our bellies. Giving up ALL sweets has been hopeless but trying to eat less couldn't hurt.
Church has little day-by-day books for Lent this year. So, even though we're late, we decided to try it. The reading for the 1st day of Lent:
"Jesus came to save us from guilt and fear."
What?
I thought we were sinners and wretches. Well, we are, I think, but maybe guilt and fear are behind the wretchedness. Maybe that's what God grieves over. Maybe His heart breaks to see us so miserable.
And maybe loving ourselves and others is our salvation.
What a concept.
That guy Jesus had some awesome ideas, huh?
My guilt comes with grouching and criticising:
"I'm just joking, my sweet little bratties."
Some joke.
"I'm just teasing, little things."
Some kind of love.
Sooo, we're going to try to give it up...
Give up guilt and fear.
Got rid of some guilt last night by saying sorry about criticizing and grumping at my loved one. Got rid of some fear by deciding to start trusting my offspring in their decisions. With God's help, I'll keep at it. Maybe it could become a habit.
I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm missing the sweets, but good heavens! Jesus missed the sweets and all the rest of it during the 40 days in the desert.
You'd think I could do this one little thing. Jeez.
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