With the Lenten Season just 2 days away, beginning with Ash Wednesday, for once our family is ready.  Usually, it seems to sneak right up on us, (despite the many reminders along the way), and we are scrambling to figure out what we will do for Lent. Of course, we all know, that with making such decisions so spontaneously and haphazardly, we didn’t truly contemplate in our heart how we would go about living the Lenten Season consciously, or how we can best grow closer to Christ, as we prepare our selves and our hearts for Easter.  We did get into the swing of it, in the first few days of  ‘too late’, managing to follow our Catholic obligations.  But they were done almost just as that > obligations.

But this year, we weren’t letting it happen again. What’s more, I have heard Lent calling me for some time now.  And by this time, we are all well prepared; armed with Lenten plans, and joyful hearts of anticipation.

I suppose Easter is time in which most ‘anticipate with joyful hearts’.  And we certainly do as well!  After all, Easter is THE most sacred and celebrated day of the Catholic faith. Even more so than Christmas.   For in God’s Only Son, rising to life, rose with Him salvation that is ours, if we choose to embrace it.

But Lent is a time we are anticipating with joyful hearts as well, because it is a time we can best show our love for Christ.  It is a time we are called to focus more on Him, sacrifice for Him, spend time with Him and  grow closer to Him.  Through reflection.  Through prayer. Through Penance.  As an individual, and as a family, we ultimately grow in strength and commitment to our relationship with Christ. How can these gifts be anything less than joyful?   They are indeed gifts we are called to embrace. As Catholics, we are unquestionably called to embrace them in these 40 blessed days, until the celebration of Easter.  And for the good of ourselves!

I won’t get into my (longer than usual) personal list of Lenten commitments, of which I have pondered with an attentive heart.  But I will share with you a couple of other agendas on our Lenten list.  As a family, we have decided to add a Mass to our week. And early morning Mass…..which, for anyone who knows us well, is a sacrifice in itself. We are not at all a morning family. We enjoy waking up when we do, and having our leisure morning—sipping coffee, (< definitely me), nibbling toast made of home made bread, starting our fire – to keep us warm as we wake and wash, and get ready to tackle our schooling and work agendas for the day.  No…..dragging ourselves out of bed, after a crude alarm sound, and rushing to get ready to leave anywhere, is just not our cup of tea.  Even a little.  But, we figured…..Lenten sacrifices are not meant to be necessarily enjoyable. They are meant to be….a challenge.  Difficult for us. A personal hardship, of sorts.  And hey…..if we can make it to an 8:00 a.m. basketball game (we did TWICE this season!), we can surely make it to Mass!!

Attending and experiencing the Mass itself, ….not at all a sacrifice.  But a BLESSED GIFT!

A couple of weeks ago one evening, my oldest daughter, {A}, and I, had come across a Mother/Daughter Quiz, in my FAVORITE magazine, Faith and Family.  To begin with, the questions posed were for me, as the mother, to answer for my daughter.   It was to see how well I knew her.  One of the questions was : “What is her favorite day of the week?”.  I knew the answer to that immediately:   Sunday.   She loves the Mass. But more than that, she loves to SERVE the Mass. As an altar server. She has expressed countless times, how much closer she feels to Jesus, being up on the altar, and serving Him.  It isn’t just something she SAYS.  It’s something EVERYONE can SEE. I can’t tell you how many times we have been approached by people after Mass, to be told how they are amazed at how reverent she is up there. Truly absorbed in every moment. Relishing in it, even.  She is scheduled for certain Masses, (and always the most important ones), but gleefully and (very eagerly…trust me…) volunteers to fill in for anyone who does not show up at the Masses we attend.  She jumps out of our van to go check and get ready, before our van is even turned off.    So yes……clearly the answer was Sunday.

Ding Ding Ding!!!  Another right answer for Mama.   I scored very well, in the end, I might add.  I know my kiddo. 

At the end of the quiz, the daughter is to question the Mama.  My answer was Sunday too – but for a different reason:

I VERY MUCH love receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.  I look forward to until I find myself  ‘at His table’ once again, and I receive with a joyful and hungry heart.   It lifts me in such an indescribable way. The moment I consume the Eucharist, and Jesus once again becomes part of me, I feel whole. Alive more so than before. I am certain I feel the Holy Spirit flowing through my blood, and renewing every part of me. I feel an overwhelming urge to weep, out of the relief!  It truly gives me strength to ponder or resolve the difficult situations/relationships in my life. (Although sometimes, it takes 2 to tango. lol). More than any other time, I can deal with them with at least some shred of grace.  A Christian perspective that in all honestly, I know I am called exercise always.  I am weak, and a sinner. I’m a constant work in progress.  With the Good Lord’s help, I like to think.

My beautiful, freckle-faced, spunky little God-daughter, will be welcomed to Jesus’ table for the first time this spring.  She is making her First Communion this May. I am SO excited for her, I can’t tell you.  I will travel to be there, to witness her on this special, special day in her life. Oh, I know children don’t always fully understand the vast reality of what a gift this is, for them to be able to participate fully at the table of the Lord, from that day forward. I know they are a child, and have not yet experienced or comprehended all that this means for them.  But it is, prayerfully, a very crucial milestone, in the spiritual journey we are called to follow. I have faith, and pray regularly, that she will grow closer to God, with each precious day of her life.  And that one day, she will feel what I do, when receiving, and becoming one with Jesus.  Perhaps she will feel something quite special inside.  A magic she cannot explain. Some children do!!  But one day, God-willing, she will be old enough, and have an open heart enough to know, just what that feeling inside is.  It is not a figment of the imagination, or sugar rush.  But the love of Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit, renewing our very souls.   It will be a beautiful day, no matter what the weather. (But let’s pray for sun!  Remember?….He hears these little, petty prayers. He’ll decide if our petition is worthy of granting.)

Our own three little one’s will receive their Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion, next spring.  We are preparing them, with SUCH excitement and anticipation.  On both our parts, and theirs!   They have waited for as long as they could talk….always asking “When can we go up too?”  “How old will I be when I can receive Communion too?”.  At each Mass, at Communion time, they sit back, and pull up their legs to ‘Sit like little Indians, so that all of the people in our pew can get in and out.  And they seem to watch us longingly, as I glance back occasionally to check on them.  What a day that will be, when we will not have little Indians in the pew any longer.  My-oh-my!!

I also look forward, in this Lenten season, to spending more time with Jesus, at the Exposition of the  Blessed Sacrament.   My only quiet time with Him, is often spent half asleep.  Because my children must be asleep, to have true quiet!  So I intend to find the time to sneak away, and have that time with Him.

Our kids will also be taking part in this program called Lenten Adventures.  In fact, they start later today!  It is a free online program for kids that consists of videos, stories, prayers, activities – all as part of lessons on their faith during the Lent/Easter season.  It’s free!  All you need to do is sign up, and you get 3 e-mails a week, with links to everything you need.  We can’t vouch  for it yet, as we have never done it before, but it looks pretty good!  If you are interested in checking it out for your own kids, just click on the link above.  I hope it is fun and deeply educational, and helps them truly participate in their own age-appropriate way this season.   I guess we’ll see!

May we ALL grow this Lenten season….as individuals and children of God…as families who hope to hold Christ as the center and core of their homes and families.  May the light and love we called to, especially during this season, be a place we long to stay in each and every day, long after our 40 days are done.

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