Letting things be might be the hardest thing about this crisis. Recognizing that things are outside my control is never easy. But it’s especially hard to know that the greatest and most selfless gift I can give to others is to do nothing.

Often it doesn’t matter what you decide to do for Lent. Sometimes your Lenten journey finds you. So, here we are.

Our younger son hurried into the room holding a water glass full of forsythia he had cut from the bushes in our yard.

Going to the cemetery can be emotional, but it can also be very peaceful and spiritual. I think about what a fleeting time on earth this is for each of us.

Want to read about that topic that’s on everyone’s minds? Then you probably want to click away. These quick takes are distancing themselves from that conversation again this week as I share bits from our lives.

In the midst of my nephew’s disappointment, he came up with an idea. Everyone in the family could pick two favorite fictional characters, and he would build a bracket.

There’s something about the rhythm, the soothing tones. You move from words into humming, holding the baby until he’s just tired enough that you can slip him into the crib. Then you tiptoe off to bed, fingers crossed that you can get a few hours of sleep.

Many of us have one topic on our minds right now, but my mother challenged me to write a 7 Quick Takes post that doesn’t mention it. And I do love a challenge. So, here we go.

Dipping your fingers into holy water on your way into Mass seems like a small gesture until you can’t do it. There was no water there. I could bless myself with a waterless cross, but I missed that tangible encounter.

I love Lenten Fridays so much that I always think I should give up something else besides meat those days.