Lent Kind of Rocks

This Lent I have decided to start doing a Daily Devotional and The Love Dare for Parents.  I have never been good about following devotionals and quite frankly, my prayer life resembles mini chats with God that happen on the fly.  Often times it is on the fly and to ask for help.  Which, if you think about it, is kind of rude.

"Hello God it's me Katie... you know the girl that only talks to you when I need something?"

Yeah that's right, kind of like a spoiled teenager asking to borrow gas money after not completing any of my daily responsibilities.  I am a busy girl who loves God but definitely has a hard time showing God.  I just don't have the time or energy.  I put God at the bottom of my to do list.  He kind of falls after blogging but before folding laundry.  Ugh!

This Lent I have decided to try and remedy this.  I want to increase my spiritual life and FINALLY heed the advice of one of my all time favorite priests.  Here's the story... I was in confession and breaking it down but really honestly sharing how I just can't find a deeper connection with God.  Father told me the following... a really rich spiritual life comes the same way losing weight does.  To lose weight you have to eat right but you also have to exercise.  So, going to mass and practicing your faith is great, just like having a healthy diet.  But to really lose the weight and keep it off, you got to do the work.  You have to exercise your soul daily by cultivating a personal prayer life with God.

So, yeah... for those of you that know me, EXERCISE?!?!?!?!  Father couldn't have given me worse news.  I had to sit with that blow for a while and finally accepted that I would have to do the work.  It is now 4 years later and I am finally getting the message. 

My Daily Devotional is short and sweet.  It offers a reading and a brief thought for the day.  I am trying to do good about jotting down my thoughts on each day.  Today's entry was "Shine Anyway".  Really good and needed message for me.  Things don't always go the way I expect them to go.  I have been struggling for a long time but today's devotion reminded me that my speech and behavior need to be a positive witness always.  I kind of suck at this.  I like to complain, I like to freak the freak out, I enjoy that feeling of dumping my negativity and letting it all go.  But, that reaction doesn't help to heal me or give good example to those around me.  If I was Job I would have quit after the second trial.  I don't like hardship.  Never have, never will.  Today's devotion told me to suck it up and shine anyway. 

Besides the Devotional, I am trying to do a Daily Veggietales Devotional with my kids.  This is not a pressure thing.  For those kiddos that want to join, they are welcome.  But, there is no demanding of participation.  I like the feeling of praying together especially during Lent.  I like how the little boys look at the pictures and hear those words.  Even if they get bored, that special closeness is awesome!  I am going to attempt to fit in some Rosary saying, too.  But, no promises. 

Lastly, I am rocking out the Parents Love Dare.  3 days down and feeling inspired to be a better parent and more demonstrative with my love.  We shall see.  I decided to do this Love Dare because I know the greatest occupation I have on this earth and the one that gives me purpose, is being a parent.  I have been abundantly blessed to be a parent of 5 kids!  Some people don't even get one.  I have 5.  Now, while there are days I wish I could run away to Timbuktu, most days I am completely over the moon in love with my kids.  The craziness of our daily lives do not always allow me to show them.  This Love Dare is going to help me do that more during Lent.

Doesn't Lent rock???  I know we are preparing for Good Friday and it is a time that remembers Jesus' suffering but it also reminds me that I have a responsibility to live up to my purpose.  To cultivate a great spiritual life.  To dig deeper and be more faithful.  Lent is my time to delve in and become a better version of me.  This is what I intend to do.... I suppose I will also have to eat Fish on Fridays.  I will, but I don't have to like it.