I must have exhausted my creative genius on Wednesday because I spent all day yesterday trying to write and came up with nothing. I prayed. I cranked the K-Love Christian tunes and even cleaned the bathroom looking for inspiration. Nada. The well was dry. One day into Lent and I was already struggling. That’s definitely not good! So I put it down, went to bed and woke up with a fresh new perspective. Sleep is good!

I’m not gonna lie. I was extremely disappointed in myself because I set the goal to write a reflection every day during Lent but just couldn’t force it. I so wanted this Lent to be fruitful. I wanted to stay true to my commitments. I wanted to fulfill my goals. So, is all lost because of a missed blog? Absolutely not!

Maybe I was just trying too hard. Maybe because of the noise I was creating, I couldn’t hear what God was telling me. Maybe just, just maybe, I was missing the point. It’s a 40-day journey that needs to be walked and experienced to get to the end. It’s not supposed to be easy. There will be ups and downs; just like life. Some days will be great and others not so much. Don’t force it. Be patient. Pray. Lean on God. Don’t lose perspective.

Today I woke up to an absolutely beautiful sunrise. I went out on the front porch with my tea to just take in the morning. The birds were singing and you could feel Spring creeping closer. There was a chill in the air but in that moment, it wasn’t the cold I notice but the beauty around me. Then I turned around and there it was staring back at me: the Merry Christmas door mat. Looks like I forgot something when I put the Christmas decorations away. Oops!

But then I started thinking. Without Christmas, there would be no Jesus. With no Jesus, there would be no Lent, no Easter, no Resurrection and no salvation. Just think about that for a minute! Christmas brings joy, hope and celebration but shouldn’t Easter do the same? Yes, there is pain, suffering and sacrifice before we get there but oh when we do.

Let’s embrace Lent with all its highs and lows. Stumble. Fall. Get back up. Just don’t give up. Christ didn’t!