I suppose if nothing else, one objective of Lent is to get further in touch with our failures, which then highlights our need and gratitude for our God.
This season of Lent, like Advent, is an opportunity I try to take advantage of observing as a family. That means I need to coordinate it. What do we need to focus on? Are there special activities we should participate in? How do we make the most of positioning ourselves to know God more?
2019 seems to be a year, with two young teens living in an affluent community, to reset attitudes to gratitude. A rhyme my husband particularly likes.
How do we do that? Right now....a couple ways.
One - attitude bowls.
One bowl receives black licorice (a flavor my kids despise) jelly beans when complaining, selfish attitudes are present. The other bowl receives those yummy Cadbury mini milk-chocolate eggs when attitudes of helpfulness and thankfulness are demonstrated.
Today there are three black jelly beans and about 7 chocolates. Not bad. I'm realizing that busy-ness and having company in for the weekend helps minimize the time available for grumbling. We'll see how this plays out over the remaining days. The dog has gotten in on the action too...sneaking onto the table and eating both bowls clean. >sigh< When it's time to share in the penalty jelly beans and reward eggs, we all partake. We don't assign a reward or penalty per person who contributed it. Instead, we all suffer from complaining so we all eat black jelly beans. Likewise, we all benefit from gratitude expressed, so we each enjoy the yummy chocolate.
In addition, for the sake of daily reflection, I've written daily devotions for us to get us into God's Word and become that much more familiar with God's thoughts and heart about our how we use our words, and how words are connected to what's going on in our hearts.
So... how does this fit in to being faced with our failures and needing Jesus?
First...God's Word always shines light on our darkness. Thankfully, He also shows us the way to repentance and forgiveness. Whew!
Second...my own aspirations and expectations of how intentional impactful Lent will be for our family individually and together always leave me a little frustrated and disappointed because I just cannot seem perfectly execute the plans. Devotions are going well for everyone but we still can't find time to sit down and discuss together. On some days I'm not paying attention enough and I'm sure I've missed critical jelly bean or chocolate entries.
I'd hoped to blog more to detail more daily experiences, but I fill my time with many things - some needed and productive, but some not.
These issues are not new in me and certainly not new at all in God's experience with humanity overall. The law was given by God and only revealed how incapable we are of keeping it in any kind of consistent way. Without Jesus, our only option is failure and doom. Thankfully Jesus paid the penalty of our severe righteousness shortfall, and His resurrection power exists to lift us - decision by decision - out of the grip of sin addiction.
All because HE LOVES US.
This is where gratitude truly begins.
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