Ash Wednesday, the day so many people seem to feel is a Holy Day of Obligation and they HAVE to get their ashes or else! You have to wonder where a lot of these people are on actual Holy Days because many of them are complete strangers to me. I'm thinking it might be God's way of bringing back the one, lone sheep to the fold. Who knows who might come because of superstition and come back for Faith?
It is always interesting to think back on Ash Wednesday once Holy Week is upon us and see how many of our promises and 'give ups' stayed the course! We do simple, family things for Lent. Even if our children don't get into the spirit as maturely as we adults (!), we will have, as a family, done something. Several years ago, we decided to abstain from meat both Wednesdays and Fridays. It made me realize how easy it is to prepare meat on the fly but when you have to think meatless TWICE a week, it gets a bit harder. We also give up eating out or fast food. Amazing how soon we feel a need for a hamburger when we are out shopping the first week! Also, no sweets which is a double give up for me as I love to bake. I took cookies to friends and neighbors, yesterday, and warned them! : - )
Anyway, in addition to the sacrifices, we need to put a positive spin on the next six weeks and who knows? Perhaps, some of our personal changes will become good habits that go past these 40 days of Lent!
