Sacrifices

Lent begins this week- early this year! I was not brought up Catholic, but since becoming one a few years ago, I have thought long and hard each year about what I will give up during this time. Sometimes instead of giving something up, I have decided to add something, such as, prayer with the kids consistently or reading a Bible story each night. I like do this anyway, but I will be honest- there are nights that I am just ready for them all to go to bed. I know this time is about the sacrifice and giving something up we love to remember what Jesus did for us. I struggle with this because everything is so trivial compared to His sacrifice! I like my coffee or soft drinks, and yes, it would be really hard to give these up-- but I still go back to what He gave up for us. I know that obviously we can not do that much, but it just makes me think- I need to make sacrifices every day of the year and remember what God has given us each day. We get in our busy routine and rarely pause in our day- just to remember what He does for us and how much we are loved! I think this year I would like to just make time to "pause" and listen and pray each day- for myself and with the children.