Like most Catholic families, on Fat Tuesday we started out our day with pancakes, and ended it by eating way to much of whatever we are not going to be able to consume over the next 40 days.
We discussed what our sacrifices would be over breakfast. I would like to say this was a serious, heartfelt conversation, and all decisions were thoughtfully discerned, but I happen to live in a house with 4 boys ages 13 and under, and one baby girl who sat in the backpack a pulled on my hair as I flipped pancakes, so I'll take what I can get.
Matthew began the discussion by proclaiming he would be giving up clothes.
Michael was quick to remind him that he would not be allowed to play baseball or get into church, and he certainly couldn't receive the Eucharist if he was naked.
Matthew then change his mind and decided to give up Catherine, for Lent. All the boys laughingly agreed that they would do the same thing.
John stated the he was going to give up doing the right thing, and do everything wrong, and there was also discussion of forgoing showers.
James (clearly confused) tried to get in on the action and said he would give up the Nintendo Game-cube (the system, not the actual games), since he can play all his Game-cube games on the Wii (which we now happen to own).
This went on for sometime, but eventually the boys decided it was time to get serious and name their sacrifice (after all, I was only going to make cookies if someone was giving up dessert). And this is what we ended up with:
Michael is giving up chips and his daily bowl of cereal.
Matthew, the competitive one, is giving up the most with chips, soda and dessert (as long as he can have gum of the sugarless variety).
John is giving up chips as well.
James who will be happily consuming chips in front of his brothers over the next 40 days, has also decided to give up dessert, along with Matthew, just as long as he too can have gum (of the sugarless variety).
So there you have it, I won't bore you with mine (although I'd be lying if I said laundry and doing school didn't cross my mind). Ash Wednesday is upon us and Lent has officially begun. I wish you a holy and fruitful Lenten season. Come by for dinner anytime. No meat on Friday's, and I won't be serving chips or dessert, but I can certainly promise you that Matthew will be dressed.