Lent

Today begins the first day of Lent for 2014.  Those of you who are Catholic need no explanation, but for those that are not let me explain why I celebrate this thing called Lent. When I was younger, being raised in a  traditionally Catholic home, Lent was always about something that you gave up for a really long time, and then Jesus comes alive and you get to have said thing back in your life again.

Now as an adult, I've come to appreciate Lent in a whole different light. I now know that Jesus is ALIVE all year thru, and very much a part of my life. So it's not so much about taking away something that you really love only to get it back in 6 weeks and celebrate, with no true change.
To me Lent is the Spring cleaning of the soul. It's a time to move some furniture around and sweep out the cobwebs of your heart. 
I look at this time that is 6 weeks out from Easter, and I ask myself these questions;
What have you allowed in your life that has taken the place of God or What are your idols ?
What can you clean, purge, fast from that will remind you that you are NOT it's slave?
How could you be a better wife, mom, daughter, friend, sister, human being?
And after answering some of these questions I pray. I pray and ask God to really lead and direct me in a way that will bring a more purposeful way of life.  I no longer celebrate the season of Lent because I have to. I don't do it to look like a better Christ-follower or like get brownie points from God. (There are no such things by the way)
No, I approach the Lent season a little differently.  With freedom in my heart,  I know that only God and his amazing grace has allowed for me to be a part of this awesome thing called Christianity, and that by no means could I ever achieve salvation through giving up sugar, or coffee, or television.
I'm grateful that I have the freedom to participate Lent,  and that I have the perspective that I do about it.  I wait with hopeful expectation for good things to come from every Lent season. I take the time to thank God for the little things that come my way during this time. The things I would otherwise take for granted.  The things I pray and ask God for during this time are not quickly forgotten. And when Easter Sunday morning comes I really do feel like the living room of my soul is de-cluttered, dust free, and ready for hosting, the Lover of My Soul.