After mass last Wednesday we all walked up to get our ashes and then those of us who wanted to, also approached the altar and randomly chose a piece of slate with one word on it.
The week before our priest had “warned” the congregation that these would be available and that each word represented something that we needed to focus more on during the Lenten season, in our daily lives and while in prayer.
He jokingly mentioned that HE chose 4 words but that each of us should only take one. He also gave examples of some of the words including “hope”, “faith” and “silence”.
My neighbor in the choir said to that last one, “Gee, sure I hope I don’t get that one!”
I quietly thought the same to myself… until…
Yep.
But I was actually glad to get this one.
Really glad. Because, as I reflected on my one and only word, I decided to focus on a few things for at least these 40 days and possibly hopefully maybe beyond as well…
*Less yelling/fussing at my children… and every time I am tempted to break out with more than a firm voice (when needed) I will try so very hard to say the word to myself in my head instead – “Silence”…
*No gossiping… I do not feel like I gossip that much about others but I am only human and I do talk about people when I should not so I’m going to do my best to squelch that.
*A little more quiet here (and on twitter/facebook)… yes, that’s right, maybe less time on the internet is in order for a while. Y’all know how much I do love it though, so we’ll see how well this part goes.
I am hoping the silence will also bring a little more peace in my life as well as in my heart.
How can you find a little more silence in your life? Do you think you could do it?
(it’s hard with little kids, I know!)
P.S. It’s
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