My children are mostly past the stage of birthday parties with themed invitations. But I remember receiving many colorful invites in school folders and via email when they were younger. These varied birthday invitations were exuberant calls to spend a couple hours, usually on a Saturday, helping a very loved little one celebrate another year. While my boys received these invitations jubilantly, as a parent I looked on with trepidation. My Saturday to-do list would now need to be accomplished minus the two hours or more spent at the birthday party. And littles’ birthday parties can, and usually do, involve lots of screaming kids, too much sugar, and awkward social interactions with other parents.
Invitations, despite the welcoming nature of the idea, are sometimes fraught. An invitation to journey through Lent might feel like receiving a child’s birthday party invite. You will be asked to give something up, and the journey might lead you through places of discomfort and self-reflection.
But life’s invitations, the good ones, are often like that. There are things to be released and given away but there are also the rewards of new experiences, growth, and resurrection at the end (think birthday cake and sprinkles).
Some Comfort and Joy will be posting every Monday and Thursday during the season of Lent. Sherah-Leigh and I hope you will join us as together we explore the Lenten season and The Lord’s Prayer.
some comfort and joy 