05 February 2008

spreading the love...

thoughts swirling in my head on mardi gras...lent is tomorrow. i have had what seems like a million considerations for keeping a holy lent going through my mind. what to do?

for me, a true sacrifice usually involves the foregoing of chocolate & coffee. however, in the interest of not inflicting penance on those around me who would not need or deserve it, the coffee will stay.

but, the chocolate will go. (dear me, did i just say that??!!) even the mochas. gulp. (however i am *not* giving up bella mocha!!)

but before i do...i *am* going to 'spread the love'...the nutella love, that is! today is world nutella day. break out that scrumptilelicous stuff, dig in with a spoon & indulge in the awesome recipes at ms. adventures in italy & bleeding espresso! quick! before tomorrow!!

that's the sacrifice! but Father T., some years ago, recommended that we not only make a sacrifice of giving up, but add a sacrifice of doing something extra... that resonated with D. & i and it has added a new dimension to lent ever since. i won't go into great detail here (it's not a confessional ;) but i will say that the "something extra" involves actions found on this timely list...just reflecting shared by the mother of this lot. (many, many thanks!)

it involves gratitude...the keeping of a new year's resolution of sorts...remember the one thousand gifts?well, i'm going to spend lent keeping that focus & counting away!

28. blogs that make my heart swell with joy, laugh out loud, sigh with wonder, get chills, cry a few tears, say prayers, send love around the world!

29. the kindness of blogging souls...

& that leads me to some very overdue thank you's & the passing on of some good.nearly two months ago, dear annie at the benedict notes & then just a few days later rebecca at cre8tiva passed this honor to me...something i find extremely humbling. in my reflecting on the words below, i want both annie & rebecca to know that they both exemplify this honor in their blogging & i too would have chosen them!..."Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) it to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. These five all share the message in their own creative ways, and I admire them all for what they do."
In the spirit of this award, the rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for
(1)this post as the originator of the award ( Dan King of Management by God)
(2) the person that awarded it to you, and then
(3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ.
If you know of other deserving recipients of this award, and would like to start a new string, then please post a link to where you've started in in the comments to this post. I would love for many deserving bloggers to be blessed with this recognition.
The rules of participating:
1. Copy this post.
2. Reflect on five bloggers.
3. Make sure you link this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Go leave your chosen bloggers a comment and let them know they’ve been given the award.
5. Put the award icon on your site.
in the time i have spent reflecting on what this means, other bloggers have come to mind...
1. for gloriously inspirational posts...including the one thousand gifts...ann
2. for keeping us in touch with roma & the vatican like no one else...john paul
3. for a daily dose of the holiness of motherhood with 5 crazy children...the mother of this lot
4. for twining the beauty of poetry with living a holy life...debi
5. and for living a very couragous life in the face of some daunting challenges...jessica
may all of you & those who read you continue to be blessed as your share your gifts through blogging!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Give up coffee? uh-uh!

Karina said...

Funny, I just posted about Lent and sacrifices versus "giving" for Lent...

I'll have to make sure to visit those inspirational blogs you mentioned, because we can all use a little inspiration here and there.

Thanks for the linky-love!

Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva said...

i try to do an ignatian retreat throughout lent...it centers me and brings me back to what is important...we always gave up candy in my family...one year my mother decided to give up coke...we had to take her to the hospital the next day...caffine withdrawal...we went back to candy then...so watch the caffine sacrafice...lol...missed you...r

Karen Cole said...

You are too kind. I am blushing. Thank you, truly.

Hey.....you and I should be in Venice right now!!

I only eat Nutella in Italy anyway, darnit.

molto grazie!!!!

I STILL don't know my Italian.

xxoo

Leslie said...

What a beautiful idea -- giving for lent versus giving up. Actually a little of both is perfect!

Thanks for the link and the forever sweetness that radiates from this blog and from you.

xo

the mother of this lot said...

Thank you so much for my award! I never thought of myself as a disciple before! I shall spend the day reflecting and will pass it on tomorrow.

Thank you again - for this and also for lots of lovely new blogs to visit!

Love
Jackie

somepinkflowers said...

1000 gifts!
and you are one of them,
we know.
i enjoyed this posting
on many levels
as you have
the best ways of looking at things,
uplifting ways...

:-)

i was so confused with so much going on yesterday,
but i MEANT to celebrate
Nutella Day,
bought yet ANOTHER jar
and ate it all last week
before i could cook with it...
happens with alarming regularity over here...

anyway,
i decided to give Nutella
*away for lent*
in the best spirit of my heart,
i am giving jars of Nutella
as Valentines to my family...

we will see...

also, no Nutella should help
with bathing-suit season coming up soon
here in florida...

Debi said...

Debbie, at your Piacere blog, I feel I've found a kindred soul, and a place in Spirit I would wish to attain. When I first browsed your blog, my heart literally bowed and overflowed, and I said to myself, "What a beautiful spirit she has!" How creative you are. You are a "Proverbs woman" whose children rise up to call "blessed," and your husband, too.

Thank you for the honor you gave me. Would that I could live up to that holiness of life! I've just recently started blogging again, and so I will need to search out 5 recipients over the course of this year. and pass along the love as I find them.

P.S. I've been avoiding Nutella over the past year and this one to date because it is such a temptation. But I indulge in a little peanut butter now and again. Doesn't make sense. I should probably just get the Nutella.

Anonymous said...

Ever see the movie Chocolat?
Johnny Depp is gorgeous, and Molina gives a great performance as a man giving up sweets for Lent.
Sending much bloglove,
Frances

qualcosa di bello said...

maryann...not coffee...NO WAY! the chocolate had to go :(

karina...i've been feeling the same way about give up vs. add...chocolate was the only logical sacrifice. i like your idea of keeping a sense of accountability for the journey through blogging.

rebecca...your story is why the coffee will stay...others would suffer for it if i did! i've decided to do ignatius' spiritual exercises.

karen...yes!!! you are so RIGHT!! we should...now *that* would be martedi` grasso to remember! there is always '09!

leslie...no, thank YOU for all those delicious baby posts...

jackie...you really, truly are a disciple...in the trenches of domestic life...aaahhhh!

spf...nutella for st. valentine's day!!...you are sure to sweep those you love right off their feetsies with that :D

debi...a long time ago i decided that the best way to live was to use Pv. 31 as a guide & you have no idea how dearly i hold your comment in my heart...thank you. & yes, take your time to reflect...it took me 2 months.

frances...that book is on my nightstand!!! (i am currently avoiding it as it is a temptation;) & oooohhhh how i love johnny depp in that role. sigh.