Lent

It is that time of year again. Suddenly everyone is giving something up for lent. For the record, we (my family) are giving up chocolate bars and chocolate Cadbury’s eggs (my secret passion). Chocolate in the form of pudding, etc. is allowed as one child eats VERY few things and might waste away to nothing. Which, at 9, she is already beginning to think might be cool. sigh. Problems looming on that horizon.

We are Catholic and my children go to Catholic school so this is something they do understand. We are not always regular church goers. I try to find a middle ground where we go often enough that they know what to do and hopefully learn a little about loving their neighbor, but not often enough that they hate it. It is a hard balance to find. I did try to make us go more when I was desperately trying to find a way to quit drinking, but it interfered with my drinking. sigh again.

Over the years I did give up drinking for lent a few times. To show I wasn’t really an alcoholic. I was able to, as growing up in a fairly religious household struck enough fear of God in me that I was able to white knuckle it through 40 days. In the end, this probably only hindered my realization that alcohol was in control, not me.

So, if you are new at this, and choose to use lent to take a much needed 40 day break from booze, that’s great. Think about how you feel every day. Are mornings easier? Is your thinking clearer? Are you less anxious? Maybe these 40 days will be the start of something bigger.

For me, I plan to continue my alcohol free life with a little less chocolate. One day at a time.

Stillness and peace.

Anne