One year during our childhood, my brother decided to give up "Lent" for Lent. I remember thinking he was not only witty but genius as well. Why hadn't I thought of that? There I was agonizing over something difficult to give up and he had alleviated himself of the whole entire problem.
Yet, deep within us we know that there is something good about sacrifice. It is in our nature.
In the extreme situation, most of us would lay down our lives for somebody we love if we had to. In the less extreme situation, we would lay down the doughnut if we would love to fit into our skinny jeans! We sacrifice for the greater good.
Giving up the gym and veggies may seem like a burden lifted off our backs, but in a short period of time proves to be detrimental to our health and well being. Anything of value in our lives is always worth the sacrifice.
But wait, sacrifice IS NOT a bad thing, really! There is a way to sacrifice in love. In fact, we do it all the time in our relationships with family, friends, spouse, and children. When we truly look at all the many ways we die to self on a daily basis for the good of the others, we may surprise ourselves. Early morning wake-ups and late night tears. When we look at the relationships that are the strongest in our lives, they are also the ones that have called us on to the greatest amount of virtue and the deepest sacrifice. These are not acquaintances, they are family.
Lent is a special time to go into the desert with the Lord for forty days, strengthened by the Spirit to fight the darkness of sin in our lives, and grow in intimacy with Him there. Let this be a yearly retreat in which the focus shifts from the physical to the spiritual, in order to give all to the relationship and falling deeper in love.
"Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart."
~Hosea 2:14
Lol...your comment on giving up Lent for Lent reminds me of my daughter when she told me she was fasting from fasting :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words on love and sacrifice in your post!
Wow. I really loved that last paragraph of yours. It sounds like something that ought to be in a pamphlet and handed out to everyone! Very well said, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI love you simple words to make lent be a yearly retreat. And Janice is correct, your last paragraph is wonderful. thanks
ReplyDeleteSacrifice is really not bad and is easier when you are doing it because of love. I love what you said about shifting focus from the physical to the spiritual. Thank you for this beautiful message.
ReplyDeleteSisters, thank you all for the beautiful comments. I am so glad we are on this journey together!
ReplyDelete"Let this be a yearly retreat in which the focus shifts from the physical to the spiritual, in order to give all to the relationship and falling deeper in love." Such a good thought. And, this year, as a family tragedy has struck, I am called even more strongly to trust God and to focus on relationships, offering sorrow and pain and knowing hope and love are there.
ReplyDeleteMartianne, it sounds like your family is truly in the desert of Lent. It is such an inspiration to know that you are able to believe that Christ will find you there. Hope is a great gift and conquers despair.
DeleteThank you for a new view of Sacrifice!!! #LentOn ~ Allison
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