As we know--Lent is the time to give back to God for all the wonderful things He gives us whenever we ask.  God gives us life, sustains that life, and walks with us until we cannot walk any further on our personal journey and then are welcomed cheerfully into His heavenly home.

I can’t imagine what God looks like smiling, but I know He does from just looking at the many portraits of His son, Jesus.  God has to be cheerful or we would not be here.

We were brought into existence to be God’s companions, to help God run things, i.e., watch over the animals, tend the plants, tend to the environment, to laugh, have fun with friends and enjoy each other's company.  Heaven is only an extension of these happy times.

St. Francis de Sales says: “It's a great consolation to know that the relationships begun on this earth will continue in heaven.”  What a comforting thought that is, as I have met so many wonderful people along the way,  as I know we all have! And just to think of them now causes me to smile.  Something God likes to do as well.  And God does that with us -- especially during our Lenten journey.  And, even in Lent, when God thinks of us, He has to smile, because He enjoys us and our company.

I truly don’t think our creation was meant to be all work, and serious moments.  We can take time to have coffee with acquaintances, go to the movies with friends, laugh with school chums about silly things, or simply just take a quiet walk on freshly fallen snow.  If you were God, wouldn’t you like to do the exact same things?  

We can’t just look for God when we are mad, or seek Him when we need something. God doesn’t want to hear only gripes about something or be asked to fix a situation which we have messed up.  God also wants to hear us tell a funny story that happened on the way to work.  

Why?  Because God is a friend. Friends want to hear everything about us, even if it means sharing a funny story. Its true that no matter how busy our friends are they like to know what’s happening or not happening to us on any given day.

This Lent ask something from God that will make him extraordinarily happy and eventually ourselves too.  From right where we are simply reaching out and ask forgiveness from His son, Jesus, for any hurt or pain we aimed at those we love the most. 

Then in its place find ways to pour in our love and watch God smile. Did you know that each time we love another human being, we are loving the God who made them.  

Lent is the time to give back to God.  And loving those God made is a great way to show our gratitude.  Try it, it's true!