Mortification, motherhood and the will of God
I have thinking a lot about mortification lately, and this beautiful entry over at Castle of the Immaculate got me thinking more about it this morning. This is the season for it after all and as we approach holy week it looms even larger in my mind. So while riding in the car with my dh the other day I had a startling and admittedly happy realization. The realization that because I am pregnant I am not obliged to fast on Good Friday! OK I’ll admit it, I am not very good at fasting and this was quite the happy thought for me. But you know, it was almost as if I could hear God chuckle and whisper quietly “Oh don’t worry, I’ll give
you plenty of things to offer up”. And He already has! I’m tired, I feel queasy at any given moment, I’m already experiencing the muscle aches and legs cramps I commonly get in pregnancy and suddenly all my clothes feel uncomfortably restrictive. And I know full well that this is only the beginning! Oh but I’m not complaining. I know this all part and parcel - part of the baby package 
and I wouldn’t trade it for anything . . . certainly not one fast day. But it’s funny isn’t it? Funny how God gives us just what we need. Well no, not funny, merciful. My prayer this lent has been “Lord make me holy” and His answer, “I’m working on it”.
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Apr 6, 2006 - 05:04:55Thank you for your lovely, gentle thoughts on this. They sound very familiar (i.e. what was going on in MY head at this same time last year)
Of course you said them much better than I would have.
This is so, so true!! Beautiful post, thanks for sharing this one.
Oh, yes, that God-sense-of-humor …
And, I have to add that I know what you mean about the clothes: how is it that the minute I see a positive pregnancy test a button pops?