Lent

We have a lent tree this year! I have wanted to do this for so long, but just haven't had the energy or time to do this until now. It's nothing fancy. Just some dead branches (more like twigs)  from our backyard.  We put them in a pot that my cousin brought over (with a gorgeous white flower) on the day that Rachel died.  That was such a kind thing for her to do. And I set it on a tablecloth that used to adorn our small table in our first apartment together in Osbourne Winnipeg.  It has five loaves of bread and two fish - reminding me of the boy who brought his lunch to Jesus and he multiplied it for the crowd - a reminder to us that God is Our Provider.  I bought it in China before I met Dave. Then a few years later (ten years ago now), Dave was in Seminary and I was finishing University and then working to pay our bills.  And God did provide.  We often marveled at how our expenses, when added up, were far greater than the amount of money coming in....and yet we never fell behind. God is faithful.



There are lots of ways to use a Lent tree.  Last year a very dear friend of ours sent us this picture of some paper grapes with Rachel's name on the back. She told me that their family was praying for Rachel and for us every day through Lent.  They printed out other Easter related pictures, hung them on their tree and used them to pray for people. This inspired me to do something similar this year. Except, instead of putting them on our tree, we are going to put them on our wall.  And last night we started with Rachel. We thanked God for her. We asked God to give her a kiss for us. Dave asked Jesus to hold her like he always used to hold Rachel.  Thank-you God for being our Shepherd.....
(and for The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world...)

I found another idea for our Lent tree on this blog:  Babe of My Heart You read a different story/scripture each day and then hang an ornament that corresponds to what you read. I only made the tree on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday....so I didn't have the ornaments. I was happy to find another site where someone found all the corresponding pictures to the above blog and they are easy to print out! This is the site for the pictures...a mustard seed journey
 Ann Voskamp also has a beautiful idea for the lent tree as well.  This is the site: Making Easter Tree Trail to Nail Tree. With Devotionals and pictures to hang.  I think it covers the last ten days before Easter.  I just wanted to start earlier but I really like what she does too.

Day Two: Creation

Another tip from a friend: Put your branches into water so they will flower....I'm not sure which ones will do this better than others....:) I know that I am SO looking forward to looking out our window to see Rachel's tree, which looks dead now, in full blossom....!