said the lady who walked into the Daughters of St Paul bookshop in Petaling Jaya. Sr Elizabeth smiled and said "How funny! Most people don't say that. Happy Birthday or Happy Easter, yes. But hardly ever Happy Lent!" I thought it sounded pretty strange as well! Then, just as i was walking out of the bookshop to say hi to Big Boss in the chapel, a book titled "The Joy of Lent" caught my eye. I didn't stop to read the synopsis, but it got me thinking... Why shouldn't Lent be a happy time? Let me explain (or if you've already thought of this, then humour me! :p)
I have always thought of Lent as a time of repentance, of suffering with a
dash of guilt, of journeying together with Jesus in his 40 days of
'time out' in the desert, all of which are not traditionally associated
with 'fun' or 'happiness'. My mistake was assuming that it shouldn't be
associated with 'joyfulness'! I know it says in Matthew 6:16, don't look so gloomy when you're fasting, but it also doesn't mention anything about being joyful right? 
Well, it's the difference between the 'old Mel'
and the 'new Mel' i suppose. I think God granted me the grace to change my definition of 'joy'. The old Mel would get all stressed out and
irritated when things don't quite go my way or when i have to do
something i don't like. The new Mel, on the other hand, has realised that even though i have
to do things that i don't like, if those things are in line with
God's Will, then i feel peace within. It's a strange new feeling that my
human mind cannot fathom. I attribute it to the Holy Spirit within me..
It's all about love i suppose. If my Beloved is happy, then i'm happy
too..
Therefore, if i offer up to the Lord any suffering i encounter during Lent (actually, i
think this holds true beyond the Lenten season), and perhaps somehow, some way, some time (cos God's time is not linear..) it will
reduce the pain and suffering Jesus felt on the Cross (even if it's just
0.00001% reduction), then i will suffer it with JOY! =) Sounds a little
sadistic i must admit, but not too difficult to comprehend.. It's the same way i love
my mum and my sister so much, that i would take a bullet for them. When
we truly love someone, even the greatest sacrifice doesn't seem like
enough. Oh gosh! That must be how much God loves us!! =) Hmmm, my
mind will never comprehend how truly and deeply God is in love with us, and my heart can only know a smidgeon of it! Thank God, His love for us is independent of our love for Him! Phew... 
Dear God,
Thank You for... everything! I wish i could adore You more but i feel my little heart is not big enough to hold such great a Love as Your's. If my heart were a flower, i want to be a dandelion. Small little weed by the sidewalk, but sort of cute and good for the liver! To paraphrase St Therese, i'm happy to sit quietly in the corner and perhaps give You some small amount of joy when You glance at me... This Lent, grant all of us the grace to open our hearts and allow You to draw closer to us!
Dear Mother Mary,
Intercede for us during this trying time of Lent. May we be as courageous and as caring as you are..
Amen.
