Small Sacrifices

Mother Teresa gave us a simple word of encouragement that might well be our guiding principle during Lent:  "Most of us will not do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love."  As we approach Ash Wednesday, we might reflect on the little sacrifices we might make during the 40 days and begin to select the ones we can keep.  Sacrifices are a sign of our love for another, for God, for we gain nothing for ourselves but direct our action toward the well-being of someone else.  We might volunteer to help at a soup kitchen, in our local school or church; we might visit the elderly in nursing homes and just chat with them.  We will be sacrificing our time, but others will benefit.
Or we might consider the traditional "giving up" of desserts, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, a favorite TV program. This latter might provide the time for our extra quiet prayer, our sitting with Jesus, our heart to heart conversation with him.   We might substitute a "soup and bread meal" for our regular fare and donate what we "save" to a Lazarus House, or a Bread and Roses...organizations that aid the poor.  If we think about it, we can come up with other options that might "hit the nail on the head" for us.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote:  "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  (Heb: 13: 16). Whatever we choose to do or give up, let us do it with love and remind ourselves each time why we are doing it.
Bro. Rene