Leap Day is almost like a free day – an unexpected day that comes only once every 4 years. What would you do if you had an absolutely free day with no responsibilities or expectations? What might you do to make it special?
We have a cousin in the family who was born today – so, while Zack is over 6’4″ and has been on the earth 29 years now, we joke that he has only celebrated his ‘real’ birthday only 7 times, so today is a really special for him and his family.
Also today we read of Namaan who hesitated to wash in the river Jordan as instructed by Elisha as it didn’t seem special enough. His servants call him out: “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.”
Today is a great day to start something new, something you’ve been wanting to do but have been putting off – something that might seem to be so ordinary but can become extra-ordinary.
Some suggestions:
Read a chapter of the Bible every day starting today.
End each day saying prayers with your spouse – an Our Father, a Hail Mary, or just a “Thank You God for…..”. Praying with your marriage partner – you were sacramentally one at your marriage – might seem odd at the beginning but becomes truly transformative.
Make sure to physically touch your children and spouse – every day. We crave physical touch and do not get enough; just google it and you’ll see support for this lack, and its impact, everywhere from Psychology Today to the Huffington Post! A hug, a kiss, a cuddle on the couch or a simple holding of the hand.
Do an evening exam of conscience. Checking in with God by yourself, silently, before you fall asleep makes your next day start much better. Straight from St. Francis de Sales – Evening Exam
Make today worth something a bit more….
-Rachel Watkins
