It was a little weird for Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day to fall on the same date this year.
I didn’t grow up observing Lent. Well, I did, but not the way I look at it now. We never talked about giving anything up for Lent at my house. We went every Tuesday during Lent to one of the 6 or so churches in my tiny village, and learned how other people worshiped God. In college, I had friends who observed Lent, but they always gave up things like chocolate, or chapstick, and I didn’t really get it.
As a Catholic by marriage and an adult, Lent looks a little different now. I take my kids to Ash Wednesday prayer. I seriously consider what to commit to or give up during Lent. One year right after having a baby, I committed to exercising every day. Another year I gave up Facebook, and it was wonderful. It may have been the taste of freedom that allowed me to give it up for good.
This year, as I continue through this season of feeling inadequate and overwhelmed too much of the time, I didn’t know what I could do for Lent that I could actually commit to and that would have the desired result – to draw me closer to God.
I’ve always loved getting cards, especially via snail mail, and I assume most people feel the same way – it’s probably one thing most people can agree on.
It’s too late for this year. You didn’t get the cards in time. I have that sinking sensation after too many birthdays and holidays.
But today, everything will be on clearance, and that’s your chance.
The big box stores are OK, but I really like Rifle Paper Company’s website, because the cards are so pretty and unique.
I have been known to hop online after other holidays like Mother’s Day or Christmas to find clearance items to snap up and stash for next year. (*Mom, spoiler alert*) In fact, in order to make shipping worth it a year or two ago, I have beautiful Mother’s Day cards for the next 3 or 4 years.
So get some fun cards on clearance, put a reminder in your calendar, and go get them next year, Tiger.
(Sometimes, when we are stuck inside on cold days, it is dreamy. Other times, not so much.)
It had been an icy cold day, a frustrating day, when my husband got home from work. He took one look at my face, and told me to get out of the house for a while. I started to do one last thing – putting laundry away – then stopped myself, put my coat on, and left.
I saw the glowing light when I got into the car telling me I needed gas, but I figured I wasn’t going far and I could get some on my way home after I ran a few errands. I drove to my first stop and headed into the store.
I let my mind wander while I picked up the things we needed, along with a few things we didn’t.
When I got back out to the car, it wouldn’t start.
I almost texted my husband an SOS.
(My Not Kidding Face after a night shift)
I don’t consider reading people one of my gifts. When I need to, I can really tune in – and as a nurse, I have to tune into my patients in order to figure out things they won’t or can’t tell me with words.
With friends and acquaintances, I pull it together for conversation as often as I can. But I find this type of interpretation exhausting.
Sometimes, especially when I am tired or distracted, I can’t muster the energy needed to read folks and so I wind up feeling like I’ve missed something, without knowing quite what. I can sense a disruption in the Force, so to speak, but can’t tell what is causing it.
That happened this morning.
Why is it easier to respond graciously to criticism when the person dispensing it isn’t close to us?
The ones who are most qualified to criticize, and do it with our best interest in mind, aren’t those acquaintances and even strangers who feel the need to make known how they feel about us and the way we choose to live. They are our loved ones, and if it isn’t safe for them to speak up when we’re not doing something right, then it might be time to re-examine priorities.
