"I gave up candy."
"I gave up soda."
"I gave up beer."
"I gave up sweets."
"I gave up TV" ... or Facebook....
You get the idea. In fact you get tired of hearing it. SO may people are complaining about what they gave up, and are looking for sympathy about their chosen sacrifice. "Woe is me" they seem to say, "that I can't have that delicious chocolate cake you have there because I've given up chocolate for Lent."
Then, on Easter, these people who have suffered through Lent are gorging on candy and soda and spending hours upon hours catching up with their favorite shows and all the FB posts they missed. No permanent impact on their life was realized.
When I was in 5th grade I had a wonderful Sunday School teacher: Carol Jean Vollmerhausen. She wisely counseled us to give up something we really wanted/needed to give up. At that time she suggested such things as not making our bed, sassing our mother, procrastinating on assignments, etc.
So here is a suggestion: give up something you really WANT to give up:
- Do you want (or perhaps need) to give up all that candy you eat that is driving you toward diabetes? Then use Lent to give it up for good!
- Do you need to spend less time in front of the TV and more with your kids? Then use Lent to give up shows you don't really need/want to watch (things you watch just because you are sitting there) and use that for some family activity.
- Do you want to stop smoking? Stop eating carbs? Start making use of your gym membership? (this requires that double negative of "stop not going to the gym")
Again, you get the idea: Use Lent as a springboard toward an improvement in your life.
Oh - because this is really a spiritual season, perhaps that goal is to spend more time in the Word of God and prayer. Then try giving up 30 minutes of sleep each morning to start a new habit of scripture reading and meditation, or giving up 30 minutes of TV time or using your lunch break ... whenever you can "give up not spending time with God" and begin a new habit that will then continue well past Easter.
Oh, and try to only tell a few accountability partners - not broadcast it to the whole world in lamenting tones. You might even tell those people in an excited voice that indicates you are looking forward to this life change!
I'd love to hear what you plan to sacrifice this Lenten season, and after Easter I'd love to hear how it has changed your life.
