and with gratitude for each day and all that I've been given.
I'm not good at giving up my routine pleasures - I forget and don't succeed, and believe it's not productive to kick myself for failures.
Will abstain from meat today, but honestly love dinners from the local Friday fish fries, so it's not much of a penance.

And church regulations stipulate that the fast and abstinence mandates do not apply for folks above the age of 59.

I can't believe guilt and shame is what our brother Jesus wants us to feel. Striving to live in loving kindness toward others more fully is my Lenten promise.