tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188078120365131355.post5773465456397939543..comments2024-01-16T04:04:41.045-05:00Comments on Someday I'll Sleep Autism Blogs: Lenten RealityCammie Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07137080807945525006noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188078120365131355.post-68535027572311788582012-03-05T09:10:39.489-05:002012-03-05T09:10:39.489-05:00Cam, for a couple of years now I've taken the ...Cam, for a couple of years now I've taken the additive approach (rather than the give up) approach to Lent for the most part. It's not totally the case because we do pretty much give up meat for Lent (other than Sundays and St. Patrick's Day). It had been going pretty well until this weekend when I went to a conference that required a very early rising and late going to bed. I managed to get things in (albeit in a pretty abbreviated fashion yesterday). What it made me realize is how much easier it really should be on most days for me. I'm rarely that busy overall, and yet there are days that I find myself still with the Office of Readings to do at 6 at night. I think that sometimes it's good to have a bad day to realize what a normal day really affords us.<br /><br />I have been struggling with discouragement this Lent over the political situation. The readings yesterday, so lifted my heart. It made me remember once again that God truly is in control. The good thing for me about doing the readings is that it keeps pulling my focus back to where it belongs. The other additive thing is a particular prayer sacrifice that is also making me remember that this particular situation is in God's hands not mine.<br /><br />I think I'm realizing for the first time that Lent is not just a time when we give things to God, but a time when he gives gifts to us as well.<br /><br />Now what I'd like to know is why is it that the Fridays of Lent (when I'm truly obliged to abstain from meat) are the only days of Lent where it's difficult, not only is the temptation greater, but this weekend the logistics were actually more difficult as well.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127202199834183627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188078120365131355.post-72733045770435001872012-03-04T13:55:50.846-05:002012-03-04T13:55:50.846-05:00Sounds like you're suffering with what I would...Sounds like you're suffering with what I would call "latent Protestantism". I would define that as being filled with the spirit through praise and worship and if I'm not feeling that when I praise and worship I must be doing something wrong. Very touchy feel-y. I grew up being protestant. I suffer from this non-reality a lot. The philosophies I grew up with are not cohesive with suffering. To them, suffering is bad and only happens when you've been a poor Christian. It's so Calvinistic. Ugh. I'm so happy to be Catholic.<br /><br />I have to remind myself of my personal limitations. Look realistically and what I can do and what I need to entrust to God, and if I'm uncomfortable with that or with what God gives me, to be okay with accepting that humility. Logic doesn't always factor into our thinking when we plan our goals for Lent. Thankfully, we have husbands who are logical and can balance our femaleness out (or if not a husband, hopefully a father or brother or priest or good male friend). <br /><br />When I married my husband (a cradle Catholic who was very passionate about being Catholic) he stunned me with his philosophies. I had never heard of his take after all my listenings to EWTN, Catholic Answers, etc. To him he finds giving up things to be very beginner. Adding something to our spiritual life is much more challenging. I still don't get it. I guess by adding something to our spiritual life we naturally have to give up time and give up other things to make it happen (so why focus on giving things up when you can give to God and give up at the same time).<br /><br />Talk with your husband next year about balance in Lent. Have him be your moderator and adviser. After all, we marry the person who we think will help us get to heaven.Janahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07970843028240002613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8188078120365131355.post-82245640747730461732012-03-04T08:03:12.563-05:002012-03-04T08:03:12.563-05:00Sounds like a successful lent to me. Humility is ...Sounds like a successful lent to me. Humility is never an easy virtue and yet is essential to every other virtue. As a mom, your daily work with your children is a constant source of spiritual growth, every Mass you struggle though, every prayer time that is interrupted, every opportunity where their antics made you feel your efforts were failing and yet also exposed them to your example of trying anyway and doing anyway because God is worth the effort-- every bit of this is part of Lent too.<br /><br />I set my goal but no longer expect that I will keep them perfectly. This year I got sick and missed three days of my prayers, so I made them up, caught up with the rest of the people, and am not kicking myself for it. It is about making the goal and working toward whatever growth it will bring but understanding that God will either grant the successful completion to me or not, as He wills. It is all OK and I keep plugging along.<br /><br />So keep plugging along--you really are doing OK.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17524883650410009114noreply@blogger.com