The church we currently attend doesn’t ‘practice’ (for lack of a better word) Lent but it is something I grew up with so it is a tradition I have carried on with my own children. I have to say Lent has really sneaked up on me this year. I think it was the combination of us having been under the weather for 3 weeks and then catching Olympic fever that caught me so unaware. So we are starting off a little shaky, I am usually a little more prepared.

Last year I made a banner to use during Lent to encourage positive behavior and putting others needs ahead of ourselves. (If you want to check it out I have a post called Lent that covers the making of it and how the kids earn fruit etc.) So I asked Dave, “Could you go grab that banner from the attic for me?” “Of course,” and off he went only to come back empty handed he looked high and low and no sign of it. HMMM, well needless to say I spent too much time looking in this closet and in the basement to no avail. Last Lent we were still living in my parents basement so I phoned Gramma and Biba to find out if for some odd reason it was still in their basement. No luck!! The case of the missing banner…I am going to work really hard at not loosing sleep over this one.

Anyway back to Lent. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lengten which was their word for the spring season when the days began to ‘lengthen.’ Lent is seen by many as an old tradition, popular in liturgical churches. Does it have any worth for us today…I think so. We all need times of self reflection: I find Advent and Lent perfect times to slow things down a little and check my priorities. Good Friday inevitably will be upon us before we know it. I don’t like to approach Christmas and Easter without really considering the magnitude of these events. As for Christmas, John 1:14 ‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” The same Word that spoke creation into being left the glory of His heavenly throne and humbled Himself to be born a baby in a lowly manger. Amazing! Easter… well we can’t have Easter without Good Friday which, as I mentioned in my last post, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that kind of sacrifice. That kind of love. There is a Michael Card song that says something to the effect of, ‘they didn’t need to use nails His Love would have held Him there.’ Wow! Then Joy of all Joys, Easter, the Tomb is empty! WE HAVE A SAVIOR!!!!!!!

Just as Lent showed up at my door this morning Good Friday and Easter will too and I want to have had time to allow my heart to be searched. I want my kids to wrestle with their hearts not just look at these days as holidays but to look at them as Holy Days as we remember and celebrate what Christ has done.

I hope to be able to share a bit of our journey over the next 40 days (Sundays are seen as little Easter days so they are not counted in the 40 days of Lent) it won’t be all struggling with heart issues but also some family traditions in the making (I hope). So check in to see what we are up to. I will also continue to blog about the everyday things as well:)
Blessings to you all and I welcome any Lenten questions or suggestions!!!