Hidily Doodily Fat Tuesday!
Today I’m knocking out some items on my fat to-do list. It feels good to get stuff accomplished. Of course I’m stuffing my face with leftover pizza which is perfectly acceptable on my eating lifestyle as long as I don’t consume the crust...but once it’s been heated up in the air-fryer that’s the best part so you bet your last dime I’m eating that part too today!
Even though I’ll likely regret my decision later, that crust sure is delicious right now. And the crunchier it is, the better it holds up to a heaping dip into that homemade ranch dressing...umm-mm! And the more I eat, the more I want...good thing there isn’t much left.
Isn’t that the way it seems to always be with indulgence? More more more! More chips and salsa, more hot rolls, more cake! Fast food chains have been found to use ingredients to make us want more...more belly ache. Have a cupcake, why not two? Grab a candy bar- KING SIZE! The more we have, the more we want.
Today is a day to focus on the abundance of what we have. I for one, have too many animals and that does not make me want more I guarantee you. However, I am grateful that I have the ones I have and that I’m able to care for them well. We have abundant blessings indeed.
Every morning I try to end my prayer time with more praises than asks. I’m not always successful as my prayers are many, but on those days that the praise side is longer than my prayer side, I am joyful. That long list of prayers leaves me feeling grateful. Grateful for the ability to lift my voice to a cause that isn’t my own. Grateful to have a God that hears me. But, praises are awesome! And I love lifting those too.
These days we have to be mindful of overindulgence. Having too much is wasteful and often diverts our focus from where it all comes from. Like eating too many cupcakes will leave us feeling sick, having too much stuff leaves us greedy and thankless, entitled even.
Many folks give up something for the next few weeks to turn their focus away from fleshly desires and on to sacrifice. Fleshly desires are things that make us feel happy or exhilarated for a moment. We may feel sacrifice when we pass up dessert or skip our daily soda, but real sacrifice is digging deeper into the Word and realizing what Jesus did for all of us.
Walking through the wilderness of self-denial to things we take for granted, and prayerfully seeking a deeper relationship with Christ should be a daily ritual, not just for 40 days out of the year. The same with helping and giving to others. However, if this season is all you can muster, or all you need for a lifetime of lent-prayer and penance, then by all means go for it.
I will be partaking in a pancake supper, and I like to do a focus check for these 40 days as well, but my walk through the wilderness is a daily one. Thwarting the desires to have more than I need is constant and keeping my focus on my creator is something I need to keep in check every moment. Doing for others brings me joy, and although I don’t do as much as I should, I’m thankful for what I am able to do.
Go in peace! Make this season of Lent more meaningful than ever.
*Mark 1: 12-15
**Matthew 6: 16-18
