Day 34: Breaking Lent

Heading out on our family trip, I took a deep breath thinking about what a road trip would be like given the things we've given up for lent this year:

- Mcdonald's (family)

- Tablets (kids)

- scrolling social media (me)

- Caffeine (me)

- all drinks besides water (me)

if I'm honest,  the list above is a significant part of road tripping.  The kids get time on their devices during long drives while I sip my diet coke and scroll Instagram.  The glorious break from motherhood. 

I was pleasantly surprised,  as we started out on our trip, at how well the boys entertained themselves during our long drives.  I still missed my diet coke but vacation was going well. 

We decided to get a hotel room for a night so the kids could go swimming.  They swam for hours. When the last water soaked boy climbed out of the pool,  the crying and fighting began. Everyone was HANGRY. 

The hotel was next to a Sonic. The boys had never tried it.  So we decided to walk over and check it out.  Miles eyes jumped out of his head as he scanned the menu finding a bright picture of a corn dog. "I'm having a corn dog!!" He exclaimed.  

I pressed the button to order and the reply came,  "we're short staffed. Only taking drive thru orders." "But we're on foot" I replied.  "Maybe we can get to you in 15 minutes.  No promises. "

I looked at the kids.  They were squirrelly.  No way would they last 15 minutes. Miles eyes beamed with excitement.  I looked around.  What other choices were there? Jack in the box, gas station, Walmart and Mcdonald's.  I turned to the kids.  "This is going to be a very long wait. Do you want to try Jack in the box instead?" I asked. 

 "Do they have corn dogs?" Miles asked. 

 "No,  but you can get chicken nuggets and fries. "

 "OK. I'll be flexible. " 

We headed over to Jack in the box.  As we neared the door,  we noticed a small sign.  

LOBBY CLOSED.  DRIVE THRU ONLY. 

I turned to the boys. "This is closed.  Do you want to see if the gas station has corn dogs?"

We turned again and headed to the gas station. We clambered in and headed to the concession area.  NO CORNDOGS. Miles started crying.  What now?

We headed out of the gas station and stood in the parking lot. "Do I suggest we break Lent and go to Mcdonald's?" Miles was falling apart.  He was sobbing. Starving.  Across the street,  I could see people inside.  The lobby was open.  

I thought of Jesus collecting wheat during the sabbath. 

I sat the kids on the curb.  

"Guys,  I think this is a moment where we make an exception about Lent.  Miles is so sad and I think we need to get food for him. " 

They nodded. 

"Miles,  would Mcdonald's chicken nuggets be OK?"

He blinked away tears and looked into my eyes.  Really? His little face seemed to ask. I grabbed his hand. 

"Yes" he said quietly as he stood up to walk to Mcdonald's. 

We all walked over to Mcdonald's quietly. Sometimes breaking Lent teaches as much as keeping it does.