Lenten Sacrifice

Lent begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and you know we Catholics take Lent very seriously.  We abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent.  We are also encouraged to make a Lenten sacrifice.  It can be something that brings us closer to God and His will such as reading scripture everyday, praying the rosary, attending daily Mass etc.  Or it can be giving up something that currently keeps you from God or will remind you of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. Last year, I gave up shopping.  This scripture in particular made me realize how material things can keep us from getting closer to God.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:15-17

Giving up shopping was very powerful for me.  I realized how much time and energy is spent buying things and putting things away and exchanging things.  I also realized how much mental energy we spend thinking about "things."  When we are doing that we are not doing God's work.

The previous year I gave up blogging.  That was hard too and I learned a lot as well. Again, it made me realize how much time I waste on the computer.

As a child, I sucked my thumb when I slept.  And I sucked my thumb for a long, long time.  Just to tell you how long...I gave it up for Lent one year !!!  That is how I quit!  I do not recall the exact grade or age but I was old enough to give it up for Lent.  I do remember that!  

Someone asked me recently if I make it through my sacrifice each year.  Yes, I usually do.  As hard as some things have been, God will know if I cheat.  If I cheat on a New Years resolution who am I accountable to?  Myself.  If I cheat on a Lenten sacrifice, I am letting God down.  So, I choose carefully.

This year I have been tossing around a few ideas.  I thought of doing the 40 bags in 40 days challenge.  You fill bags with clutter to rid from your home each day.  I could do that!  I thought of giving up shopping again because it was truly transformative for me.  But I have really felt God nudging me a different way.  Not really a way I want to go but a way I need to go.

I never exercise.  I loathe exercise. I really hate to sweat. Yes, I eat pretty healthy but I am not taking care of my body through exercise.  It has come up in my life a lot recently and I feel that this is what I should do for Lent.  It will certainly be a sacrifice for me because I do not enjoy it (at ALL) and it will take time away from things I DO enjoy.  I know I will feel physical pain because I am so out of shape.  I will try to use that physical pain to remind me of the suffering Jesus endured.  I will also pray as I exercise (I am going to need to).  So, there it is.  I am going to begin an exercise regimen.  I know it is God's will that we take care of the bodies He has given us and I am not doing that so well.  My goal is to exercise 3-4 days a week and I will keep a log of it. This might be even harder that the no shopping thing for me because I REALLY hate exercise.   

I am also going to commit to reading a chapter of scripture each day. 

And I made this sacrifice jar for our family.

 I typed up lots of little things that we can easily do each day such as:

help out Mom or Dad today, say something nice to your sister, read about a saint today, pray for the homeless today, be a friend to someone who seems lonely today, read your Bible for 15 minutes,  play a game with your sister, be kind to your brother, clean out your closet, clear the dinner table tonight without being asked,  tell your teacher how much you appreciate them today, write down three blessings God has given you, no "sweets" today, compliment someone at school or work today who usually irritates you, no TV today, pray a decade of the rosary today, avoid video games, appreciate something God gave you in in nature today, pray for your grandparents today, smile at people more today  etc.....

So each day, the kids (and maybe us grown-ups too) will choose a paper from the jar and that will be their Lenten sacrifice for that day.  I have not run it past the kids yet and I am not sure how well it will go over but I think it is a GREAT idea.  I think I will keep it on the breakfast table and encourage them to take a slip of paper each day.  I will not hold them accountable though.  They can be responsible for whether they do it or not.  I will obviously have to help Kate though.

It was not my idea.  My friend, Kelley shared it with our Moms group.

One more thing...you do not have to be Catholic to use Lent as a time to come closer to God. I'd love to hear what you do for Lent or any ideas you have for the jar...I need more:)

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

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