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(Lenten Prayer Cup)
Sheila Sims Iding
Some things just take time. Some projects we do take a few days. Some take longer. Our young author work usually spans 2 or 3 days each week. Our newly started wild animal research paper will take two weeks to complete. Our butterfly unit will take about 3 weeks from larva to release. Our project that takes the longest to complete will go home tomorrow. It’s our Lenten Prayer Cup.
We first put the prayer cup and the prayer card above our cubby on Ash Wednesday. March 5th. Several weeks ago. Each week we have added an item to help us grow closer to Jesus on our Lenten Journey. As we fill our hearts with the compassion of the passion of Jesus, we have filled our prayer cups as follows:
ASH WEDNESDAY – Our cup is empty for the next few days as we prepare our hearts for God’s great love.
FIRST WEEK OF LENT - We place a small heart in the cup to remind us of God’s love for us and His commandment to love one another.
SECOND WEEK OF LENT – We place a seed in the cup to remind us that God’s love helps us grow and helps our faith grow too.
THIRD WEEK OF LENT – We place a rubber band to remind us that Jesus stretched out His arms to die for us.
FOURTH WEEK OF LENT – We place a game piece to remind us to take turns and share with others.
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT – We place a band-aid as reminder to help others when they are hurt or sad.
PALM SUNDAY – We place a piece of palm branch in the cup to remind us that Jesus is our king…and our savior.
GOOD FRIDAY – They will place a small nail in the cup to remind us that Jesus was nailed to the cross to save us from our sins.
EASTER SUNDAY – They will place a piece of eggshell to remind us that Jesus’ love surrounds us and protects us…always.
Since Ash Wednesday, every Monday we have added to our Lenten Prayer cup. Now they are getting full. And now our hearts are getting full of the compassion of Lent. Tomorrow we will send the Lenten Prayer Cup and the Prayer Card home. It won’t be a fixture above their cubby anymore. It has been there a long time. Days. Weeks.
Since we first placed that cup above our cubbies we have said many prayers, sang “The Summons” many times, gone to mass several times and studied 14 Stations of the Cross. A lot has happened these 6 weeks of Lent as we have filled our Lenten Prayer Cups and filled our Christian hearts to journey closer to Jesus…during Lent…and always. This Lent we have been preparing for the Savior of the World. We have been preparing for eternity…some things just take time.