Explaining the ashes

I remember once when our family attended Ash Wednesday services at 6:30 in the morning and received ashes on our foreheads. I worked in a very public place, and my son, Matthew, was a sophomore in high school. All through the day people would look or stare and occasionally someone would ask, “What is that on your face?”

As one of few that day with ashes on his forehead, my son came home complaining that he had spent the whole day explaining what the ashes meant.

That night I thanked God for the opportunity–for my son and me—to spend the day sharing our faith and testimony.

If there ever is a day of the year when you can spot a Christian at a glance, it’s Ash Wednesday. That’s the one day when we literally wear our faith on our foreheads.

Will you or did you share your faith story if you wore ashes on your forehead today?

This message was excerpted from “Wearing our faith on our foreheads” by Patti Austin from the February 15, 2018, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today is Ash Wednesday.

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