Lent Intent

I grew up in a church which not only observed Easter and Lent but every other event on the Christian Calendar as well (I think they even made up a few).  However, the church I have been part of for the last 26 years has not observed those events and so I am more than a little out of practice. 

I have a couple of activities I like to do with my sons (ages almost 14 and 4) that I haven’t the last few years, both because my youngest was, I felt, too young and because Spring is arguably the busiest time of year for our farming family (did I mention we have eight birthdays/anniversaries in April alone?).  This year I have vowed to be more intentional with my sons in preparing their hearts for the message of Easter, therefore preparing my own.

I dug out and dusted off the carton of Resurrection Eggs which lead our family through the events leading to Easter Sunday.  I also plan to dig out my recipe for Resurrection Rolls and make those with the boys.  My sister-in-law makes Resurrection Cookies, which are quite delicious, too.  It might not be much, but it is a start.

I am realizing, especially as my oldest prepares to enter High School, that when it comes to Easter I have not always had my priorities in order.  Teaching my sons about the greatest event in human history cannot continue to be an ad hock priority.  I simply must carve out and protect the time I have with them.  There is too much at stake.

I could sit here and wallow in the guilt and shame I feel for having missed teachable moment after golden opportunity, or I can ask God to meet us right here, right now and restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25).  I can intentionally make memories with our family today, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead (Phil 3:13). 

I’m looking forward to seeing what God will do with my little intention intervention.