Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

I'm not sure how this writing is going to be received. I'm afraid Father might come over and knock me on my head after he reads this, but I am nothing if not honest, so here goes. I get nervous around the Lenten season. I know what it means, and every year I learn more and more about the value of praying, sacrificing, and almsgiving. I just don’t know if I am doing it right or good enough. I want to be a good example to my children and my students, and really I want to be a better woman. 

So for the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to find articles to read about Lent and how it can be meaningful to me but positively affect people around me without bragging or being prideful. I saw a post on Instagram titled, “Do You Want To Fast This Lent? In the words of Pope Francis.” It basically said give up something negative for something positive. For example, fast from hurtful words and say kind words, fast from anger and be patient. I like the one that says fast from pressure in your life and be more prayerful. However one of my favorite quotes listed was “Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.” Maybe this is my hit upside the head, so Father Adam won’t have to do it.

Fast from talking and be quiet so you can listen. I don’t know about all of you, but I am a talk, talk, talker. I have tried to be a better listener as I have gotten older because so many people know so much more than me. I don’t just sit waiting to think of the next thing I want to say as I did. I am thinking, listening, discerning about what the person is sharing. These past few years I have learned to listen to the silence at home when my kids are at their dad’s house. To the silence when I get up early to read and pray. I have learned to be more intentional in my prayer life and genuinely feel driven to pray for those around me to lift them in their need.

I think I have looked at Lent as something I could do to make me better, but I’m not sure what I have done during Lent made a difference to others, which is where I feel that almsgiving comes in. Almsgiving encompasses prayer and fasting. Giving of oneself in some way for the good of another is a gift. Maybe it is giving of your time, giving of yourself and/or your treasure or skill. Maybe it is giving your ear to someone in desperate need. Maybe it is the gift of not talking. I feel like Lent is about reflecting, repenting, and being grateful for the gift of Jesus. I don’t think you can go wrong when you put God and others before yourself. I hope everyone has a prayerful 40 days of Lent.