Lent is Coming......Ready?

I've heard some friends lately, actually eager to start the Lenten season. Perhaps they have noticed themselves slipping on a few personal commitments, and Lent, would be the perfect time to get back on the horse.

I've heard many talks on Lent and my favorite has to do with the purpose of a sacrifice during Lent. Whether we 'give up' something or 'do something extra' has bigger meaning than just "This is what we do, as Catholics". Never really letting it sink in while I was growing up, I was determined to have some kind of explanation for my kids as to why they must sacrifice something small....for these forty days.

This bigger meaning, which comes from our personal sacrifice....from all I've gathered over the years, is meant to bring us closer to God, closer to God's will in our lives. At the same time, breaking a few unnecessary attachments helps us to focus on that bigger meaning.

Years back, I struggled with a Pepsi addiction. Read here for THAT memory. It was tough, to say the least. My life seemed to be consumed with where I was going to get my next fountain Pepsi fix. Even when trying to think about God, I found that if I didn't have my Pepsi, oh, forget it, it wasn't going to happen.

And then Lent presented itself with that opportunity to fine-tune my life. I wanted to break that addiction. I wanted freedom from the caffeine headaches, the cravings and the excuse to run through a drive-thru. It took a few weeks. It was a couple of cranky weeks for me. But I haven't looked back.

Some years I had unrealistic expectations of myself. I'd do this, I'd break that bad habit, I'd also cut out that food...and so on. And I always failed carrying it all through to Easter. But that Pepsi Lent, as I like to think of it, I just took one thing, and it was a biggie for me, but just one thing to conquer. And after letting that addiction go, I was me again.....I was calm, peaceful, healthy and not making silly excuses to leave the house. In a sense, I think I was able to think straight, and see what God wanted from me in that time period of my life.

I cut out something seemingly so important to me. I thought life just wasn't right without my day-long sipping binges. And then Easter came. Celebrating Jesus' rising from the dead, and the Hope He gave us with His resurrection, brings to mind how after we suffer our little sacrifices for God, we too, have a return to Hope.

We are more focused, we are more detached. We are more ready. We can see Him clearer, understand Him a bit better, know Him more and ultimately Love Him more for the gift of His life, His death, and rising. ......And we know Him better having experienced our own little sufferings...the fasts, the meatless dinners, cutting back sugar or coffee or whatever the vice is. We can have a little glimpse of God, as we suffer these 40 days. He was man too, with all the pain and sufferings that we struggle with.

Lent is a time to unite ourselves to Him, walk His journey for a while....feel the twinges of pain every now and again, that remind us to form ourselves anew, that we conquer our vices for Him, so that we might know His will clearer.

Lent CAN do that. We have to simply do our part during this season. Maybe it's a small thing in the eyes of others, maybe it's a small thing in the eyes of society....but if it's a big thing for you, it's a big thing to God.

Two more days. Thing of just one thing. Just one. I'm nailing down mine, .....no pun intended.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Nihon - Thank You Japan

First, I apologize. It's almost been a week since my last post, and life certainly has a way to take me over. Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank You We have many commitments, many places where we have promised our time and energy, and when sickness sets in for me or anyone in our home, life pretty much stops....for little while anyway. Thankfully, the illnesses are down to minor colds, and as of yesterday, I am off the meds to treat a sinus infection. But that's not all. It's re-enrollment time at school, and every March we face the same uncertain future in debate...Can we swing yet another year's worth of financial commitment to our Catholic school, for four children. It's a stressful time, it's uncertain, and I have to say, that security is something I thrive on. Any insecurity, and I tell you, life just isn't right. With the children unaware of our finessing the budget, we work to keep that calm and peace that assures the children all will be well.

Words Can Hurt

When we first started having children, like most people, we realized quickly how they often work as a mirror to our own actions. Letting a swear word slip here or there was not uncommon in our home, yet, when our first child was about 18 months or so, and hearing my swear word echo in the house for several days from her little lips, well, it was enough to curb my speech, dramatically. And now, swear words are never spoken in front of the children, and we have adopted a few more words that are unacceptable in the house, even though common place in the world. Just another example at how, as parents, we truly are the domestic church. The world may be on the path of negativity, but the home is where we make the difference. My four year old the other day, said, "I hate tomatoes!" Not the worst thing to hear from her mouth, granted, however, the word 'hate' bothers me a lot. 'Hate' is a very strong word, opposite of 'Love'. Think of how strong that word,

Little Guys and Big Things

Sometimes, Veggie Tales stick with you. Even when an 8 year old seems too old for Veggie Tale stories, and reluctantly watches a few, the messages do stick. Over the weekend, my Knight was to serve Mass. For the past few Sundays he has been serving, and we keep reminding him of the various ways to show reverence while doing his duties.....a bow to the tabernacle, folding of the hands and so forth. Sunday, I happened to be watching Knight lather his gel in his hair to ready for Mass, and I once again, reminded him to keep his reverent ways about him while serving. He made a distinct face at me, and said, "Ugh, Mom, those other server boys are bigger than me. I don't want to do something they aren't doing." "I understand, but you could set the example, because you know, what you are doing is the right thing." He shook his head, looked at himself in the mirror, and seeing his own image reflected, said again, "I'm the youngest one there, Mom

S.tay A.t H.ome M.om at Work

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