My only knowledge of lent growing up was when my Catholic best friend had fish for dinner on Friday.
I have been doing some reading, and now I know that lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter –a time of penitential preparation of the believer. Many people choose something to fast from during this time.
I have been doing some reading, and now I know that lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter –a time of penitential preparation of the believer. Many people choose something to fast from during this time.
I don’t believe, in my 35 years of walking with Christ, that I have ever once prepared my heart for Easter. I’m intrigued at the idea of giving up a luxury for 40 days, allowing the pricking loss of that one thing to remind me of the sacrifice Christ made on the cross, to remind me of my sin he carried on my behalf.
I think I’m going to give up complaining for lent.
It will be a painful sacrifice for the next 38 days (I’m getting a late start), because complaining is a luxury I indulge in often.
Will my heart be different as Easter approaches… if I spend 38 days denying myself a pet sin?
“Do everything without complaining…” (Philippians 2:14)
Will 38 days of without change my soul? This Baptist girl would really like to know.
Would any of you like to join me? What would you give up for a season to prepare your heart for Easter?
I had to giggle at your comment about no meat on Fridays- we had fish sticks every Friday growing up.
ReplyDeleteSince I'm no longer Catholic, I just gave up the idea of Lent. But like you said, it doesn't have to be about religion, it's about preparing our heart for Easter.
I'm gonna do this too. If I start today, how many days late am I? Doesn't matter!
Hmmm . . . now to prayerfully decide what to give up . . .
Thank you for this fresh look at Lent!
1. Sorry about the tic story -I won't tell you how we took showers and the drains were full of tics. :)
Delete2. I miss you on Tuesdays, too!!!! Hurry up, etsy girl!
3. There are many rich traditions in the Catholic church that I think we would do well to copy. Would you believe that yesterday I had two massive opportunities to practice not complaining?