Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for many people. Lent is a time to reflect, prepare and then finally a time to celebrate. A lot of people look at Lent as a time to “give something up.” Some choose to give up food; others choose to give up a negative behavior. Some even choose to add a behavior or practice like making more time for prayer or meditation. Many people use this time to become closer to Jesus. They use this time to build or strengthen their relationship with God.
What do you use this Lenten season for? Is there something that has been weighing heavy on your heart and you feel the need to let it go? Do it…hand it over to God and let him take care of it for you. I always thought of Lent as a time for sacrifice. I thought it was a time that I had to give up something that was challenging for me so that I could relate to how Jesus felt. Part of this is true. I do believe that we are supposed to work on feeling closer to Jesus. For me, this means doing something that brings my relationship with God to the forefront of my mind every single day. Not just on Sunday when I am sitting at Mass or when I want to pray. I mean EVERY day.
I want to change my ways by waking up each morning thanking God for the day, thanking him for my blessings and thanking him for my challenges. I want to read the scripture so that I can let his word become how I want to live. I want his word to become what I teach my girls. I want to pray with intention. I want to hand over my worries to Jesus. This last one is not an easy task for me and I desperately want to work on it.
You see, I am a worrier by nature. I worry about my husband; I worry about my girls; I worry about the world we live in; and lastly I worry about myself. I think at this point it is part of my personality, but it is a part that I would like to improve. I don’t want to add any more stress to my life than I already have.
So, this season I am letting go of worry. I am going to make a decision every morning when I wake to give my concerns over to God. I am going to remind myself that he is in control. I will remind myself that it is his timing and his will that I seek.
I will use these days of Lent to reflect on my relationship with Jesus. I will prepare myself by praying when and where I need to. So, if y’all see me driving and it looks like I am talking to myself…there is someone listening.
I will seek his word and his wisdom in my daily living. I will celebrate on Easter Sunday with a renewed spirit. Won’t you take some time and think closely about what you want your Lenten season to be?
"Lent stimulates us to let the Word of God penetrate our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: who we are, where we come from, where we must go, what path we must take in life..."
- Pope Benedict XVI