To the Almost-4-Year-Old,
It is the eve of your birthday my love!
Final Thoughts: Just
as we have been celebrating the coming of your birthday, rejoice Lent in the
same way as we approach Easter.
Although we started Lent with a particularly early morning,
it became the best day. 7am Mass on
Ash Wednesday is where we met your Mimi and then we headed to breakfast before
babysitter/preschool drop-offs and work appointments. It was a day filled with sunshine and I felt such a sense of
glory.
At Ash Wednesday’s Mass, Father Val gave a memorable
sermon. For many Catholics, namely
me, I feel like I need to give something up every year for the 40 days in order
to understand sacrifice. Father
Val said that’s not always the case.
He said why give up something that we don’t necessarily need anyway, is
that really a sacrifice? I felt
like he was talking directly to me, as I have been known to give up my beloved
diet coke or gum in years past.
Instead, he suggested actions that would make you feel closer to your faith. So we all left church that day with
ashes on our head (even Will!).
And I made a new resolution for the days leading up to Easter: that you
and I will pray more purposefully to better our hearts and souls.
Luckily your Catholic preschool has provided me with
some guidance. Our normal routine
has been to use our prayer cube (a 6 sided block that we each toss to come up
with which evening prayer we will say) or say the Hail Mary before we thank God
for something specific and then we ask for special
blessings for sick people or anyone who needs extra prayers. Well, Ellie you have realized how to
breeze through these prayers to get to reading your books faster… you tell me
each and every night, “Mama, I’m going to pray for you because I love
you.” At first, this made my heart
melt but then I realized your strategy.
So perfect timing for my Lenten goal! We’ve now added: Pope Francis’ Five Finger Prayer
1. The thumb is the
closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They
are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a “sweet
obligation.”
2. The next finger is
the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need
the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your
prayers.
3. The following
finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those
who have authority. They need God’s guidance.
4. The fourth finger
is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger.
It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by
problems. They need your prayers.
5. And finally we
have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to
pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you
will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you
will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.
These categories give us a place to start our
discussions. And you have thought
about so many friends and family in our nightly practice. Granted, you still look around you
(especially to your bulletin board where your most beloved family members and
friends are pictured) but I feel like this makes you think a little deeper.
Ellie, just as I’ve written before, I don’t mind if you
don’t follow my rituals as you grow.
But I do want you to realize that you are not alone in this universe
(there is a higher power). And
please don’t be lazy or slack in understanding your beliefs- simply saying that
you are a believer is very different from doing what a believer does.
Yes, you will get many presents to unwrap from all of us
tomorrow but these are some words that I am gifting to you that I hope you will
take with you on your life’s journey.
I love you so much Ellie. You have made these past 4 years the best of my whole life!
Love,
Mom
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