One More Thing for Lent

Last updated on: January 13, 2015 at 12:28 pm by Rebecca Frech

One More Thing for Lent 2015-01-13T12:28:23-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A week and a half or so into Lent, and this penitential thing is hard but definitely do-able. Every year, I try to challenge myself. Some years I can really tell the spiritual benefit, like this year when my addiction to food is becoming very obvious to me. I had to fight not to daydream about doughnuts, ice cream, and bread all through Mass on Sunday. If I’m thinking about food it’s getting between me and God, so something needs to change.

Along with the sugar addiction, I’ve been noticing lately my tendency to turn inward, to myself and my own family, instead of paying attention to the world around us. I started collecting our extras in the house to donate to charity, but it didn’t make me interact with other people. I could drop off bags of clothes and never have to acknowledge another human being.

I’m going to continue purging the house, because we could certainly stand to have less stuff, but I thought I’d try adding a new thing every week from now until Easter. I’m not talking about big things, but small ways I can love my neighbor when we are out in public.

This past week I decided to start taking pictures. We live in an area where moms seem to be camera obsessed. (I’ll bet you do too.) Smart phones have made taking snapshots of every little thing almost obligatory. Funny thing though, the kids’ lives are over-documented…but moms are nearly non-existent in most of the pictures I see. (I’m using Facebook as my measuring stick on that. I look at a lot of FB pictures. If you’re my friend, please post more.) Moms are so busy behind the cameras that they aren’t in front of them.

I’ve decided to do what I can to fix that.

I’ve begun walking up to moms at the park, the zoo, karate class, or wherever we are and offering to take a picture of them with their children. It seems so simple, but it’s so huge. I know that my children like the pictures of us much more than the ones of just them. They will linger over the shots of them with their mom in the photos for much longer than the ones which have kids alone.

I’ve probably taken 20 such pictures this week. (We had a karate belt graduation. Lots of moms there.) Each woman beamed at being allowed to be in the pictures with her family. Not a single one said no. Best of all were the reactions of the kids. “Mom, you look so pretty.” “You’re never in pictures with us!” “This one is my favorite because it’s dad and me and you.”

My favorite reaction was the 5 year old boy in #5’s karate class “Wow, Mom! It’s like you’re part of our family.”

That’s why this has become my Lenten non-sacrifice. It’s my gift to the families around me. We’re putting mom back in the picture, because we all love to see more of her smiling face!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

February 18, 2013

Homeschool Mondays - Real Life Skills

Next Post

February 25, 2013 Pure Win

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many friends came to speak with Job?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Five Two Four Three