Lent starts tomorrow.  Tomorrow!  Personally, I wish I had another couple of weeks to prepare.  I just don’t feel like I’m ready to start the sacrificial season tomorrow.  But ready or not, it really does start tomorrow.

The purple drapery is now hanging in the learning center, the Lenten books are out and the stations of cross box is ready.

I may not be ready, but the kids will get me there.  That’s part of the beauty of raising kids in the Catholic Church, probably any religion.  At least my kids get me there…they make me want to be a better Catholic, want to know more so I can pass it on to them.  The best gift they’ve given me is a love for the Stations of the Cross.  We have truly grown closer to Jesus while praying the stations.  Whether we are at the Grotto or using the box or candles, we enjoy the time together and genuinely reflect on the Walk.

I have one child ready with his Lenten sacrifice, and I am so proud.  It really is an amazing sacrifice on his part.  Lance is ready as well.  Snax and Baby Hulk aren’t quite there, so we may be giving up something for two weeks at a time.

As for me, I have my sacrifice narrowed down, personally, I’d love to keep it to myself but in this household it’s hard.  I like the idea of a personal sacrifice, but it’s also nice to have some accountability among ourselves.  I bought a new book that is a do it yourself retreat.  Now to actually use it.

My hope for Lent is to grow, to unite in suffering and make some visible changes in my life.  I’m looking for patience and humility.  The kind of humility we saw when Pope Benedict informed the world he would be resigning.  We’ve heard all the reports, there hasn’t been a pope resign in 600 years.  To be the one that actually steps up and says, “I can’t lead the way I need to anymore” for the first time in 600 years, well, that’s big.  I’m not going to pretend to know what the pope thinks, but really, how could he not think, “I can’t be the one to finally resign”.

But he did.  And I respect that a lot.  I’m anxious to teach the kids more about him and about the entire papacy.  Right now though, I’m just thankful for his leadership.  I’m offering prayers for him and for our cardinals as a new pope is elected.  It will be a different Lent with one pope leaving and a new one elected.  But I know what waits for me at the end of this season, and when I remember Easter morning, any sacrifice is worth it.