Last year for Lent, I gave up alcohol. Those 40 days morphed into 10 more months as I prepared for the coming of our baby girl... and as I'm the sole provider of our daughter's nutrition, it's still a rare occasion that I enjoy a full bodied shiraz. (And I do enjoy it!)
As I wrote a year ago, I choose to give up something for Lent not because of the religious dogma but because I love the idea of setting aside something special during this time before Easter - giving something up, or doing more of something, or simply creating a daily act that allows me to remember that I'm part of something bigger.
But with all the new-ness in my life right now, and especially the new responsibilities revolving around my child, I can't seem to think of anything significant to do for Lent. I guess what I mean is that I feel like I've already done something so significant (and I marvel at it every time I look at that baby girl) that deciding to "give up chocolate" or the like seems mundane in comparison.
And there are some things I'm giving up by having her. And I am definitely doing more of something. And every day she reminds me that I'm part of something bigger. Perhaps my daughter is my Lent.
Beautiful, Rachel. She is and will always be.
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