Penance is often defined as “overcoming selfishness”, “desiring more strongly a holy life”, “being closer to God”, and “showing others love & compassion”. Penance is a tradition in the Christian church, and I believe it is important (which is why there have been exercises in penance this Lenten season). However, something that goes along with penance is Grace. When we recognize that we are not perfect, we are human after all, in God’s love we find grace as well. This grace for ourselves (and others) is a reminder when we fall to stand back up and to try again.
So, today instead of giving up something, or confessing or weaknesses. I challenge you to accept that God made you as a human, an imperfect human, however God bestows love on us and around us. If only we can pause to see it and capture it. There is love within, and there is love without. Today, take a moment to say that you love yourself. “I love me”, “I love who I am”. We are all works in progress, and if we can not love ourselves, there is no way that we can love the world.
We are love, we are God’s love in the world, because God’s love is within each of us.