The fruit of Lenten Fasting

During Lent our Mother Church wisely suggests we focus on three areas - Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving...

I guess I talked about Almsgiving yesterday when I posted about Lera's fundraiser ;-)

Today let's talk about Fasting, as I did on the phone with my sister this morning...

she is giving up "sweets" and was surprised how many times yesterday she reached for or thought about getting a "little something" from the cupboard...but she admits she is still not very keen on the whole "fasting" idea and is not sure how it can help her grow spiritually.

I am giving up caffeine and alcohol... since I am "expecting" to adopt I am going to live like I am physically pregnant on the great suggestionsof my awesome friend J who is doing the same on her journey to adopt a child with Downs Syndrome....

As the caffeine withdrawal headache set in around 3pm yesterday, I will admit the discomfort did not immediately make me think of the sufferings of Christ...

but today, as I was bringing up the laundry baskets to put away the clean clothes (and feeling much better) I realized what a blessing it is to feel physically well and to be capable of doing the physical work of caring for my family (as opposed to only being capable of lying on the couch with an icepack on my head and moaning).

So at that point, about 18 hours later I sent up praise and thanksgiving with a grateful heart for the blessing of health, asked for God's healing for those I know who are sick, and realized just a bit that living under the shackles of ANY material attachment (including caffeine!) will eventually cause us pain and that God (and His Church) are seeking to FREE us this Lent, not to enslave us.

So watch several hours (or days) down the road to see the true fruits of your Lenten practice. Ask the Lord in prayer to reveal it to you....

and we will talk about prayer tomorrow...