Posted in Spiritual Musings
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I thank each one of you who wrote to me personally to thank me for the Lenten Tree Activities ebook. I'm just so thrilled and happy it has blessed you and that it will help prepare your children for Easter (Resurrection Sunday). After doing the more popular activities through the years, I wanted something more original and more focused on the Lord. Yet I didn't want something that was too demanding because Lent is a relatively long season and I could see myself burning out if we did something more elaborate. It appears that many of you are in the same boat so I'm delighted to share this little ebook. I want to share parts of two emails I received this morning. (I've asked the writers' permission to quote them, so don't worry, if you write to me and I want to quote you, I'll ask for your permission first. :) The first is from Laura from Texas. She shares her family traditions which I thought were just precious. My daughter immediately said she wanted to do the Mite Jar when I shared with her what Laura wrote. A couple of other traditions we do each year are the Crown of Thorn wreath out of salt dough (pulling out a thorn--toothpick--every time a family member does an act of kindness) We also do our Mite jar activity for donating money to our church at the end of Lent. It is a small jar that is filled with 40 strips of paper with essentially math activities for our home--i.e. for every light bulb in the house, put $.05 in the jar; for each person in the family with brown eyes, put $.10 in the jar, everyone else put in $.05; for every pillow in the home, put $.05 in the jar, etc. Our four kids (6-10 yrs old) LOVE doing all of these, and it additionally strengthens their math skills! Then on Easter, we make resurrection rolls. I love incorporating the Lenten season into our family life, our Domestic church. I love that you pointed out that this is not just a Catholic tradition. I believe all Christians can benefit greatly from reflecting throughout the whole season--not just Easter...and become richly blessed by doing so. The second email I'm sharing comes from Tanis M. She has a great story to share. My story about Lent besides going to a more liturgical type church (Anglican and United) as a child/ youth, is from my mom who was delivered from smoking when I was about twelve. She had given up smoking for Lent and then regretted it and had no qualms complaining about it to God. It was a mini temper tantrum actually. It was totally by God’s power and there is no real physical explanation for it except she was honest with God and He saw fit to show His Lordship in her life. The craving and desire were overcome. She never touched another cigarette from the next morning on....He will not share His glory with another. Our efforts are like filthy rags. She gave God permission to affect her habits and though there is no power in the holiday ritual itself, we still serve a God of miracles. I bless Him for giving me such a mom. We’ve had our struggles to understand one another, but I am so thankful for the faith we share.
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Posted by Anonymous
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