Life DIY: 40 days

Fun Ash Wednesday Facts:

• It is the first day of Lent, occurring 46 days before Easter. 
• According to gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan.
• Ash Wednesday is so called from the practice of placing ash on the forehead as a reminder and celebration of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God for those of us who so choose to participate. 

Every year Catholics around the world, (and Christians who choose to participate), will spend the Lenten season in self inflicted fasting of some sort to remember our humility, Jesus' sacrifice, and the ever presence of God.

Most years I give up some sort of food I love, dessert, pop, sometimes even meat, and usually its a tough road. This year, however, I have decided on something different. 

When life occurs and the day to day bears down, we forget sometimes what matters. We go through the motions. We go on with our routines and we forget that we should be thankful for every day we are on this earth. So I have decided to give up some TIME. Sweet precious time. I am not sure to the exact amount, 10, 20, maybe even 30 mins. For a busy working mom of two 30 mins is like gold. How will I utilize that time you may ask? Easy.

With Prayer. Prayer is such an easy thing, yet so often we use it when it is necessary. I, and my little family, plan on spending a few mins everyday in prayer, meditation, reflection. It will be tough. Little boys, big and small, are not one to sit still, but prayer does not always have to be so formal. It can be done at the dinner table, during a few minutes of play time, and story time.

How hard will that be? To STOP for a few minutes in this fast-paced world and think, think about life, where you have been, where you are, and where you are going? To think of all those who are sick and suffering and offer a piece of yourself for them, even if it is just time & prayer. It is a powerful thing.

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. 

-Mahatma Gandhi