“What are you giving up for Lent this year?” This was a most common childhood question while I was raised as a Catholic school gal in the 60s and 70s. We gave up candy, gum, chocolate, soda, or any other pleasure for the season prior to Easter. We suffered through the weeks dying to partake of our forbidden treats without breaking our promise to God. How dare we do so, then we’d have to approach the confessional, trembling, to share our sin with the priest and await our penance.
I don’t know about you, but I no longer practice giving things up. I know the idea was to make me consider Christ’s suffering, but I must have been too selfish. I never got that far. I was too busy dreaming about attacking my basket of goodies when Easter morning finally arrived. Shame on me. And then, we’d have to be certain we could indulge and still have an hour before accepting Communion at the most crowded service of the year.
Let me share what I’ve chosen to do in recent years. I focus on getting to know Jesus more intimately by reading books about His character, doing studies and reading the gospels. I’ve attended services that intentionally reveal the heart of Jesus. I use the season to focus on how my life may reflect His in the every day.
I believe this works better for me. I think it’s more of a sacrifice to change the way I treat others than it was to give something up. Practicing putting on Christ is no easy task, but then again, neither was giving up chocolate. But this way I feel like I’m doing something for the good of others.
What are you doing to prepare your heart for Easter? Want to share?
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I think the concept of sacrifice is still a good one, especially when we have so much. Blending that with getting to know him better (beautiful approach to Lent) makes me think of who he is, and what he has done for me. If I am honest, Easter has become another holiday with plays and dramas at church, and Easter baskets for my grown children (another post entirely; I just love doing it). Today I want to slow down and think of what I can give to him, and to take the time to pursue intimacy as well.
Oh, did someone say giving up “chocolate”? Dotsie, I know that wasn’t the point of your post, but I loved the link to the nostaltic candy. We had the “little” store down the street while I going up in Sunnymead, California, and I just remembered how far 5 cents went (there was actually penny candy!), and that brought back so many memories.
See what chocolate does?! I grew up Baptist and thankfully never experienced Lent (in the official sense). But ten years ago, I went through an entire life change–the way I viewed “doing” things–and one of them was Easter which falls around my Celebration of Life day which is an entirely different post (so stay tuned!).
Hugs,
Connie