I know...Easter seems a long way off, but it always sneaks up on me. I guess that's the whole point of celebrating Lent...something to help me be intentional about preparing for Easter. Though I grew up in a faith tradition that didn't pay much attention to Lent, it's something that our family has been incorporating into our lives for the last few years. Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday, so I thought it might be a good time to think this through.
We've given things up....in 2006 and 2007 we gave up television....last year we did 40 Days of Nothing, which means that we didn't buy anything except the necessities during Lent. Some of my friends are talking about doing a Daniel Fast of mostly just fresh fruits and vegetables, or giving up things like soda or coffee.
Giving stuff up is a good thing for me because it helps me simplify and focus. But this year our family has also decided to ADD. Add something to help us prepare, help us listen, help us consider what the appropriate response might be when a King pays the ultimate penalty for you.
So for the past few nights at the dinner table, we've been discussing what kinds of things might help us prepare for Easter. Tonight, Sarah suggested that we each choose something different to give up, but that as a family, we add a spiritual discipline to our family routine during Lent.
I'll share more about what we decide tomorrow....but I'd like to know what kinds of ways you prepare for Easter - - Have you found things that have worked well for your family? We're still open to suggestions.... Have you made commitments this Lent that you'd like some accountability for? I'd love to learn from you!
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2 comments:
Hi Gretchen, I have been doing something similar. Something I started doing for lent the last few years was not only giving something up but also doing something new spiritually for 40 days! For example one year I prayed the Rosary every night. Another year I committed to extra bible readings. This year I decided to add a new prayer time with God. The concept is give up something that is bad or just pleasure and replace it with something good and spiritual for 40 days. Hopefully it helps motivate you to look at other times when you can replace one activity with a spiritual one.
One I am considering for the future is a improvement dairy for the 40 days. I came up with the idea after watching "Fireproof" (Great movie by the way!) Each day I want to do one thing nice for a member of my family and add a new one each day. I figure if it works for marriages why can't it work for lent!
Just a few thoughts! God Bless!
Great thoughts, Mike! That fireproof/love dare idea is a fantastic one!
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