Today is Ash Wednesday...on the Christian calendar it marks the beginning of the Lenten season...a time of repentence leading up to Holy week and Easter Sunday. Traditionally, Danny's family as Catholics always gave something up for Lent. As a child, I never practiced this, but I remember that my friends who were Catholic did. I remember feeling sorry for them! I used to think, "Whew! Glad I'm not Catholic, I don't wanna have to give up candy for 2 months!" Danny and I are not practicing Catholics, but we do try to observe some of the traditions that he had growing up. We began "giving up for Lent" when our kids were really small. The first few years I didn't really "get it". I just did it for Danny and the kids...it wasn't really anything personal for me, and I usually gave up something that wasn't that important to me in the first place. Until 2 years ago when I gave up chocolate (insert dramatic musical interlude here). For those of you who know me at all, chocolate is a way of life for me. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I gave it up, but oh my goodness...it was tough. That year I GOT IT!! It was a huge sacrifice for me. It made me really focus on all of the things in life that I use to soothe myself in place of God. It was shocking to me how many times I'd stick a Hershey's kiss in my mouth rather than whispering a prayer for help. This year as I began to consider what to give up, God kept showing me that my biggest distraction from time with Him was Facebook. I'm ashamed to admit how very addicted to it I have become. It's sad, but true...I think of things that happen in life in terms of status updates...and when I take a funny picture of my kids, they always say, "Mommy, don't you dare put that on Facebook!" I am home all day, most days, by myself, so I also use it as a connection to the outside world and it's been a blessing in a lot of ways, allowing me to catch up with people that I've lost touch with in life. So, God tugged at my heart and assured me that we could do this together. So, last night at about 11 pm, I shut down my facebook for the last time...I have to say, I had a knot the size of Texas in my stomach all day yesterday thinking about the people I would miss while I'm away from it. It's crazy how dependent I've become on something so trivial. I think I'm going to really enjoy spending more time in the Bible, in meditation and prayer, and maybe even exercising (no promises there!). Today has been rough already though...I found myself on the phone, asking Danny if there was anything posted that I needed to know about! Give me a break, I'm a work in progress!!
For the last several years, we've attended an Ash Wednesday service at our church. It's a time of reaffirmation for us...a time to refocus on the supreme sacrifice made for us at the cross. Our favorite minister, Pastor Van, always had such a special ceremony. Our kids LOVED getting ashes on their foreheads. One year, Madison was sick, so we made our own ashes at home after she threw an all out fit about missing her chance to have ashes on her face. Two years ago, Mason was home sick, so Pastor Van sent some ashes home with us...that was so special to Mason. He still remembers and talks about Pastor "Ban" sending home his very own ashes. This year will be different, we will miss being part of a service, but I think we will make our own ashes tonight (from grass or something instead of last year's palm branches, but I think God will understand) and have our own service at home. Father loves us, and I think He'll be ok with Danny "ashing" us!
Today, as I was thinking about Ash Wednesday, the little children's game "Ashes, Ashes" came to me. I remember standing in a circle holding hands and singing, "Ashes, ashes...we all fall down!" And then collapsing to the ground. Isn't that a metaphor for life? We all fall short of the glory of God, I'm so thankful that as followers of Christ, we have the kind and gentle hand of our Lord and savior to help us up when we fall. I'm also thankful that even when I fall down, I'm always holding the hand of a fellow believer, a brother or sister in Christ. I'm never alone. I'm so looking forward to the next 40-some-odd days of repentance and reaffirmation.
For the last several years, we've attended an Ash Wednesday service at our church. It's a time of reaffirmation for us...a time to refocus on the supreme sacrifice made for us at the cross. Our favorite minister, Pastor Van, always had such a special ceremony. Our kids LOVED getting ashes on their foreheads. One year, Madison was sick, so we made our own ashes at home after she threw an all out fit about missing her chance to have ashes on her face. Two years ago, Mason was home sick, so Pastor Van sent some ashes home with us...that was so special to Mason. He still remembers and talks about Pastor "Ban" sending home his very own ashes. This year will be different, we will miss being part of a service, but I think we will make our own ashes tonight (from grass or something instead of last year's palm branches, but I think God will understand) and have our own service at home. Father loves us, and I think He'll be ok with Danny "ashing" us!
Today, as I was thinking about Ash Wednesday, the little children's game "Ashes, Ashes" came to me. I remember standing in a circle holding hands and singing, "Ashes, ashes...we all fall down!" And then collapsing to the ground. Isn't that a metaphor for life? We all fall short of the glory of God, I'm so thankful that as followers of Christ, we have the kind and gentle hand of our Lord and savior to help us up when we fall. I'm also thankful that even when I fall down, I'm always holding the hand of a fellow believer, a brother or sister in Christ. I'm never alone. I'm so looking forward to the next 40-some-odd days of repentance and reaffirmation.
"Remember that dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
Praying that God will touch each of your lives in a special way today...and always.
Melissa
Hello!!!! So true, Melissa. That Facebook is a blessing and a curse! I'm really excited for you, though, to get your time back, time to engage in more satisfying endeavors. Yea, Lent! ;)
ReplyDelete