Finding the Desert in Little Ways

Upon reflecting on Lent this year, you might be struggling with joining Our Lord in the desert. What would truly be a gift to Jesus? What would truly show my obedience to God? What do I lack? What does God want me to have? 

When asking myself these questions, I came upon some advice by another mother that was extremely helpful. She said that, as a mother and wife, it is seldom the case that you need to find more service to do. Your entire day is devoted to serving others in your household. BUT – you probably need work in finding your “servant’s heart,” that is the prayer in your self-sacrificing. What wisdom! To find your servant’s heart, to give up everything and offer it to Christ.

That sounds sanctifying and worth attempting, but how? There was one suggestion in particular that seemed the most simple way to begin, the easiest to practice, and yet the most humbling — stop saying “in a minute.”

“In a Minute” is such a meaningful, little phrase that communicates to someone that they can wait, that your job is more important, and that the person can wait on you. How much it could mean to a child to say simply, “sure!” How much it could mean to a husband to reply, “no problem!” That means no questioning and no postponing.

Alice von Hildebrand wrote in Letters to a Young Bride, love is getting your spouse a glass of water in the middle of the night without question and without hesitation if your spouse should ask. Learning to show obedience to our vocations as parents and spouses in this tiny way, when offered in prayer, can truly be our gift of obedience to God this Lent and can teach us to be humble and meek. 

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 1:6

by Alecia Rolling, Founder

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