ah, lent

Every year when Lent rolls around I reflect on whether or not I have grown as a Christian in the past year.  Most years I recognize that I have grown, sometimes willingly, sometimes not.  Growth usually hurts and I don't actually suffer all that well.  Some years growth has come easily, I seek His will and feel myself swept along in a current of confidence.

But usually not.

During Lent, when I look back on my year I generally see where I have grown by being yanked and pulled, sometimes kicking and screaming down paths that looked hard and I didn't want to go there.  The good Lord saw fit, however, to roll me, toss me, push me gently but persistently to places I did not want to go.

I have found an interesting thing about God.  If I do not address all the big and little sufferings that come my way in my daily duties with love, He hammers me with harder ones to work out my salvation.
Bam.  Bam.  Bam.
Ouch.  Ouch.  Ouch.

He is not going to let me find the easy way for this salvation thing.  Nuh uh.  If I were smarter, perhaps, I would just accept the natural opportunities that occur each day every three to four minutes all day long and sometimes at night too, in family life graciously and lovingly.  With great virtue. 

What is it that holds me back so frequently from facing my daily, hourly, minutely (I made that up) trials with love, gentleness and patience?
Pride?  check.
Stubbornness?  check.
Laziness? check.

Thanks be to God for Lent.