Hello everyone, how are you doing on this solemn day?
All over the world on this day, many Christians are solemn and calm; there is not much excitement in the air because of what this day signifies to them. And the reason is not farfetched. Because today is Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday is not a holiday; instead, it is a Christian day of fasting, sacrifice, and prayer. And it is observed by followers of Jesus all over the world seeing as it marks the beginning of the Lenten period. The Ash Wednesday proceeds the forty days of Lent that represent the forty days and forty nights Jesus Christ had spent while fasting and praying.
On this day, Christians go to the church to receive ash. These ash are usually gotten by burning up Palm fronds from the Palm Sunday procession of the previous year, also these are followed up by petitions that believers write down, pouring out their hearts and minds to God. These are gathered from the faithful and then burnt. The ash is subsequently gathered.
The ash is prayed over by the Priest and then placed on the head of the worshippers. This is used to remind them that from dust that they came and unto dust shall they return.
The significance of this day is special because it tells us as a people never to lose focus. When we go out every day to work, when we go about our responsibilities, we have a reason behind each action. But every once in a while, distractions come and derail us from our chosen path. This day serves to bring us back to that path.
Whatever you are doing, and whenever or wherever you are doing it, always remember to live your best life. Because if you keep on waiting till you have all the money in the world, you might end up waiting in vain. We all are on borrowed time, we came from dust, and to dust shall we return. So it would be best if we make the most use of our time on earth.
Apart from fasting, Christians use this as an opportunity to up their game in the acts of almsgiving, helping the poor and needy in the environment. These are acts that are not exclusive to any one religion. Each religion of the world preaches that we help those who need it.
But today is a special day, and I call on you to go out there and look for one person you can help out. you have no idea just how much change you will be making in that person’s life. When we do this, we do it with a clean heart knowing that we do not expect a reward in return. After all, the reward of doing good is in the act itself.
So, as this solemn day cruises to a close, it does not matter your religion or beliefs. Try to live your best life, because it is the only one you have. And also help the needy and the poor around you, they will never stop praying for you.
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Thank you for reading, till we meet in the next post.