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Give it up for Lent!

February 21, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner 12 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about what to give up for Lent. In prior years, I’ve given up meat and cheese – not at the same time. Kelsey gave up meat for Lent one year in junior high and never ate it again. And NO, it doesn’t count if you give up something you hate, like liver or abdominal crunches. And you can’t give up something you don’t do anyway, such as ironing. I do not iron – not very often anyway. I don’t see the need. 
 
You may not observe Lent – not everyone does. Or you may choose to simply ignore Lent. But you can’t give up Lent for Lent. The purpose is sacrifice and self-denial. According to the Gospels, Jesus spent forty days and forty nights fasting somewhere in the desert near the Jordan River, where he was tempted by Satan – beginning right after Fat Tuesday and ending on the Holy Thursday before Easter Sunday. Regardless what you believe or don’t believe, it likely wouldn’t hurt most of us to fast for a while, especially after all that King Cake, which followed all that Valentine’s candy, which followed all that Christmas candy, which followed all that Halloween candy…
 
Some people take something on for Lent – like volunteering or meditating or picking up trash in the neighborhood. I suppose I could take on ironing?
 
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to give up sweets. Desserts of all kinds. This will be difficult. It won’t be that hard for forty days, but the forty nights will be killer. Forty nights of television with not even a spoonful of Cherry Garcia or Chunky Monkey… What will happen to my box of Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches? Will they still be good on Good Friday? Or will John have eaten them by then? There is a big bowl of Hershey Kisses on the piano that I walk by forty times a day. And, I love to bake. No baking for forty days. 
 
I have 8 boxes of girl scout cookies to eat tonight.
 
Happy Extra-Fat Tuesday!
Grace Grits and Gardening
Musical Pairing:
Louis Armstrong, When The Saints Go Marching In
 

Filed Under: Holiday Tagged With: Easter, humor, Lent, spring

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Comments

  1. Timmie Lynn says

    February 21, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    I gave up cooking and cleaning one year for lent. It was so hard on me I decided to be a good Catholic and give it up for the full year. I’m doing that again this year along with giving up real sugar, white bread, Cokes, potatoes and poundage. Happy Lent!

    Reply
    • grace grits and gardening says

      February 21, 2012 at 4:40 pm

      you are really going all out. just desserts for me:)

      Reply
  2. Robin says

    March 4, 2014 at 7:58 am

    In years passed I have given up diet cokes. This year I’ve decided to leave off all carbonated beverages. It will be an interesting 40 days.

    Reply
    • Laura Lewandowski says

      March 4, 2014 at 8:23 am

      I drank pop for years and your post reminded me that I gave up carbonated beverages during Lent a few years ago to try to make a change. Now I drink them only on long car trips. It can be an addiction, certainly!

      Reply
      • Talya Tate Boerner says

        March 4, 2014 at 11:10 am

        I quit coke (yes, you know we call all soft drinks coke in the south) years ago thank goodness! Don’t miss. That’s something great to give up for Lent.

        Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 4, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Good one Robin! Good luck!

      Reply
  3. Laura Lewandowski says

    March 4, 2014 at 8:19 am

    Lent is a huge deal in my liturgical church, a different way of doing revival, I think. I don’t give anything up except meat on Fridays–I take on an additional spiritual practice such as praying the Hours, attending Quiet Days, etc. One of the practices I started during Lent five years ago I incorporated into my faith life on a permanent basis. But tonight, I will eat pancakes at church!

    Reply
  4. Peggy says

    March 4, 2014 at 8:20 am

    I will be praying for you!

    Reply
  5. Dot says

    March 4, 2014 at 9:44 am

    I will join you in an observance of Lent.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 4, 2014 at 11:08 am

      Thanks Dot:)

      Reply
  6. mark says

    March 4, 2014 at 11:43 am

    I have reluctantly given up electricity, again.

    Reply
  7. Pat Laster says

    March 4, 2014 at 11:59 am

    How about I give up daily naps? Or ice cream? Or Facebook? Naaawwww! How about I add 40 acts of random kindness, as espoused by a member of our church? Already one ahead this Fat Tuesday: I let a shopper w/ 3 items go ahead of me and my buggy full. Hmm. Shall I send cards to those with birthdays, those who are ill/bereaved/missed/loved? If I keep my naps and ice cream, I’ll have enough energy, etc. to do that.

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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