Happy Easter!

Alleluia, He is risen! A very happy and blessed Easter season to all of you! How exciting!

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For most people, Easter began and ended last weekend, but that is actually just the beginning. The Octave of Easter is now in full swing, ladies and gentlemen. So let the celebrating continue! It's the high holy season- so bring on the feasting!!

After forty days of fasting, many people look at the Easter season as a time to break the fast, which it is. For example, if you have a deep love and passion for chocolate, you may fast from it for the Lenten season as a way of having solidarity with our Lord, and as a means of self discipline and denial. And then, come Easter when we celebrate our risen Lord, you break the fast and can once again eat your beloved chocolate! In moderation, of course. No gluttony for us!

But I got to thinking...sometimes we fast for from things that we struggle with in our life. Maybe biting your nails, watching pornography, binge eating, masturbation, holding grudges, anger, etc. These are things which are detrimental to our well being- physically and spiritually. Most importantly, spiritually. And, the end of Lent should not signify the end to these sacrifices. No, in fact, it should be the mere beginning of a lifetime fast from these things. Lent is like weeding the garden that is our soul. We want to remove the weeds at the root, and be rid of them for ever. That is how it should be with these types of items.

This Lent I fasted from make-up. Make-up is not a sin! However, I didn't only fast from make-up as a means of being in solidarity with my God during his Passion, and as a means of self-discipline. Although it was for those reasons as well. I did it also because the Holy Spirit gave me the grace to see one of the many flaws in my life.

I am prideful.

I am prideful in a lot of areas in my life; in my relationships (I will never admit they may not be perfect for fear of my pride being slashed), in my work (I am always proud of what I accomplish-to a shameful point where I no longer give the glory and praise to God) and in my looks. But there seemed a tangible, clear way that I could slowly begin to weed out the root of my pride, and that was not wearing make-up. This would allow me let go of my ridiculous, selfish pride of my appearance, and allow others to more clearly see God in me-which is the whole point of my very being.

 My face and skin was a mess during Lent. I have never struggled with acne or any other skin problems. I can probably count on my fingers the number of pimples I have had. But, God used this opportunity to humble me (I was also praying the Litany of Humility-He got me good!), and make me see beauty within myself that I didn't see before. A beauty that comes only from loving Him. And, a beauty I hid from others by always clothing myself in a cloak of pride.

Anyway, the point of this long winded entry is that we all have weeds that need picking, so ask for wisdom to see them, and take this Easter season to do some soul 'Spring Cleaning'!

Many blessing and lots of love,

Emily xo