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
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!
you are really going all out. just desserts for me:)
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.
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!
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.
Good one Robin! Good luck!
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!
I will be praying for you!
I will join you in an observance of Lent.
Thanks Dot:)
I have reluctantly given up electricity, again.
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.