Ash Wednesday
Last year we were able to make the 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass because Mary Rene was still just a baby and she wasn’t going to sleep until around 9 p.m. Now that she is in bed by 7:30-8 p.m. we won’t be able to make the Ash Wednesday celebration. Unfortunately our church only offers morning Masses at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and the likelihood of Mary Rene being up and ready for either is doubtful. I know I could wake her up really and get her moving so we could make it, but that is a lot of work.
But isn’t that what Lent is all about? Going the extra mile for Our Lord? And the first day I am already struggling to do it. I’ve been researching area churches that have a later morning Mass, say 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. but haven’t found anything. I know of two churches that have a noon Mass but again, that is during Mary Rene’s nap. And messing with a nap, is not cool. But, shouldn’t I be doing it for Our Lord? I’m conflicted on my roles of being a mother and being a good Christian. I feel my call to be at Mass on this day, even though it is not a Holy Day of Obligation but I feel my calling to be a mother as well. Since I have to work on Thursdays I like for Mary Rene to be in bed earlier, 7:30-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. If we go to 7 p.m. Mass, the earliest she would get to bed is 8:30 p.m., but really it would be closer to 9 p.m. Which means she will only get 10-11 hours of sleep as opposed to a solid 12.
Writing that out made me realize how silly I am being and it really only is about an hour difference. I mean, seriously, 11 hours versus 12, really? It is only one day, an important day, and she will be okay. So she might be crabby during Mass because she is tired. So she might be crabby the next day because she was up late and didn’t get to sleep in. But isn’t that what Lent is about? Sacrifice?
Okay. I think I’ve talked myself into it. Starting Lent off on the right foot. Starting Lent where I really need to be. I’ll just have to work extra hard on getting Mary Rene to take an awesome long nap today so we can make 7 p.m. Mass. Sometimes you just got to talk it out to realize how unreasonable you are being. Good try devil.
As for our Lenten journey, we decided to change it up a bit this year. I usually give up a list of items but by the time Lent is over I am ready to greet those items back in my life. Two years ago I was pregnant, last year I was nursing and this year I am pregnant again. So giving up alcohol or caffeine, yeah, already did that. Giving up sweets, seriously the baby needs it. Giving up junk food, seriously the baby needs it. TV? I don’t really watch it. Facebook? I only get on it three or four times a week. Limiting my internet usage? Okay, I can do that.
So this year we are doing more than giving up. I am going to give up talking on my cell phone while driving, which is very important, and I pray that this will continue after Lent. But that’s really all I plan on giving up. Two days ago we started reading The Love Dare Book, my Valentine’s Day gift for Frank, and it is going to last a year. It is a prayerful book that focuses on our relationship with God and each other. (I highly recommend all married couples to rent the movie “Fireproof” and watch it with your spouse. The acting is very poor but the message is beautiful.) In addition, we are going to start praying a decade of the rosary every night after dinner, go to weekly Mass (our church will offer Mass on Thursday evenings), attend adoration more frequently and do our prayer chain. I have some personal things I am working on as well but would rather not discuss in this forum. I’m hoping this Lent I am able to draw closer to God and be more prayerful. Because really, that is what Lent is all about.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
We are fortunate because we had a 7am, 8am, 11am, 430pm and 7pm to choose from today. I enjoyed your post because I have thought that attending 7am mass during the week would be a good thing to do, but like you thought it would be to hard to deal with the kids that early. Then my sister told me about a single mom with 5 little one makes it a point to be at 7am mass once a week. Wow! If she can do it with 5, I can definitely try harder to do it with 2 who have to be at school at 8am anyway. Thanks for talking me into it!
February 18th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
I thought of you and Mary Rene last night during Mass. There were several babies/toddlers there and they were all angelic. There was only one short bit of crying from the back of the church toward the end. I hope things went equally as well for you!
February 18th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Mary Rene surprised me and took a three hour nap on Ash Wednesday! I guess God read my post!