A Gift A Day (03/14/2025)

We were sharing our Lenten practices at the meeting last evening. One woman shared that in the past she’d given something of hers away every day during Lent to a friend, a family member, or St. Vincent de Paul’s. That practice and that image of giving away something treasured really stuck with me. Sacrificing during Lent is what we’re told to do – forgoing desserts and even extra helpings at meals or meat on Fridays. But those are “temporary.” Actually, giving one’s possessions up one at a time, now that’s sacrificing.

Jesus did tell us often that what we possess is not what matters but rather who we are. So, setting down what we own or giving it away to another to get some good or enjoyment from it for a bit makes perfect sense for us as we make our journey to life in Christ. As I sat with the image of this woman’s sacrifice in my mind last evening, the LORD and I had a long chat about what I do cling to in my life. I’m going to work on that beginning yesterday.

As I sat in that conversation with the LORD, I recognized not only what I have that I don’t truly need but also what the LORD has given to me – daily gifts of grace and talents and blessings in abundance. That chat led to me promising to be more attentive to those gifts daily and more grateful daily.

Lent is a time for turning – turning away from selfishness and sin – turning toward the LORD more fully and more willingly. The journey will look different for each of us if we are taking it seriously because each of us is unique and each of us occupies a unique place in the world and in our relationship with the LORD and one another. May our Lenten journeys this year be true spiritual journeys that bring us closer to our LORD and to the ones the LORD created us to be. May we find the courage and strength to put down that which we do not need, that which is an impediment to our relationship with the LORD and others, and may we turn daily to our LORD in loving surrender.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.