Spring Cleaning
"Clean up - Clean up, everybody everywhere, Clean up - clean up, everybody do their share." The lyrics to this catchy Barney song might have more use to our Orthodox faith than we've considered before because if there's one concept kids understand, it's cleaning! Whether they are imitating our motion with a vacuum or grumbling about household chores, kids can distinguish dirt from sparkle! Let us use this opportunity then on "Clean Monday" to introduce our families to the idea that Lent is a period of cleansing, and everyone benefits from participating. Because Clean Monday is a strict fast day, it should be kept holy thru holy activities. I'd say, tidy up the house only in conjunction with a lesson about cleaning both the outside of the cup, as well as the inside. * A clean bedroom is inviting to the angels (tidy up your icons) * A clean body can be achieved through a clean belly (observe the fast) * A clean mind is able to think of God rather
