When Giving Up Is Getting

The last couple years, a week or so before Ash Wednesday, I was assaulted out of the blue by the thought of what I should give up for Lent. But this year nothing came to me. Then on Sunday my pastor/husband suggested to the congregation that rather than giving something up, perhaps we should consider adding something. Like daily prayer, Bible reading, or something else that would have a positive impact on our relationship with God. So I resolved to do this, but thought little more about it yesterday.

Then this morning, Shrove Tuesday, at 9:25am, I realized (with God's direction) what I should give up and add during Lent.

Here's the part I came up with: Give up sleeping in.

Working at home is a huge blessing, but it does make it so easy to waste the morning in bed since I have no commute beyond walking down a flight of stairs and no one can see me so I can work all morning in my robe and slippers.

Here's how God finished my thought: Use the time I gain in the morning to do things for others.

I can be so selfish. My initial inclination would be to use extra time for myself. To exercise, to write, to read, to sew, to get a jump on work. But I already use far too much of my time for myself. Instead, I will use my added time to do things for my family, my friends, and my church. I will start the morning with a short time of prayer, asking God to guide and bless my efforts during the day and to draw my heart closer to Him. Then I'll start focusing on others.

For my family I can:
~ pray for my husband and son
~ pray for my extended family
~ do a load of laundry
~ iron my husband's dress shirts
~ make a real breakfast
~ do a load of dishes
~ write a real, physical note to a family member and put it in the mailbox

For my friends I can:
~ pray for their needs
~ write notes of encouragement
~ bake something for them

For my church I can:
~ pray for my pastor
~ pray for members
~ pray for the kingdom
~ read for Sunday school
~ write encouraging notes to church members

Like any act for another person, each of these things will ultimately benefit me, even prayers for someone else, but I hope to do them not with my benefit in mind but through the pure motive of blessing others.

Can you think of other things I might do between the hours of 6am and 7am (so phone calls are pretty much out) to benefit others? I'm open to suggestions!

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