Mardi Gras to Lent: As we party, we should pray

By Gavin Lewis
NOLA Catholic Parenting

Each year during Mardi Gras time, there is an air of excitement throughout the city, state and the world. People from all walks of life become friendlier, families get together more often, and strangers dance together in the streets.

We share stories about family Mardi Gras traditions, what Mardi Gras means to us and why we love this time of year.  We allow ourselves to become more vulnerable than any other time of the year.

Why is this? Because Mardi Gras is just that special to us.

As committed and comfortable as we are celebrating Mardi Gras with family, friends and strangers, we need to have  the same willingness to celebrate our Lord and Savior during Lent.

Lent is a 40-day period of time for personal and family reflection, a time for fasting and praying, while discussing the resurrection of our Lord.

Just as we made it a point to celebrate during Mardi Gras by sharing stories, partying and ensuring that we had the “perfect spot” to catch our favorite throws, we need to make it a point to have our children see us celebrate and share the joys of what the Lenten season brings.

Everyone knows about the tradition of giving up meat every Friday during the Lenten season, but this should also be a time for self-reflection, giving of our time, talent and finances and removing distractions, so that we can focus more on God.

It is also a time of learning and discernment for those who desire to be Catholic. Our children are watching, and  they need to see us celebrating the Lenten season with as much passion and vulnerability as we did during Mardi Gras. They need to know that everything we celebrate, reflect on and give during Lent can also be best practices that we implement in our everyday life throughout the year.

Gavin C. Lewis Sr., a native of New Orleans, is married and has four young children. He is a graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a masters in educational leadership from the University of Holy Cross and is currently a full-time student on track to earn a doctorate in organizational development. He enjoys reading, traveling with his family, going to sporting events with his son, swimming and playing dress up with his three daughters.