What are you giving up for Lent?

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I think I’m going to give-up defending myself (not in the physical sense, mind you). I’ve noticed lately that I seem to get very defensive in certain circumstances, so I thought that giving up trying to defend myself in everything I do would be a good sacrifice.

I’m also considering giving up fast food (of which I tend to eat a lot of-does Subway count as fast food, though?) and make-up (I like to feel pretty and often don’t if I don’t have makeup on in public).

However, I would like to add some spiritual disciplines to my life during Lent. I just can’t decide on what those would be. To be completely honest, Lent always scares me a little bit because I make the goals to abstain from certain things and add others to my life, but I never seem to follow through all 40 days. I guess I’m afraid of failing again, so it makes me a bit apprehensive to even consider doing anything for Lent. Does any of this make sense?

Scout :tiphat:
 
Scout said:
I think I’m going to give-up defending myself (not in the physical sense, mind you). I’ve noticed lately that I seem to get very defensive in certain circumstances, so I thought that giving up trying to defend myself in everything I do would be a good sacrifice.

I’m also considering giving up fast food (of which I tend to eat a lot of-does Subway count as fast food, though?) and make-up (I like to feel pretty and often don’t if I don’t have makeup on in public).

However, I would like to add some spiritual disciplines to my life during Lent. I just can’t decide on what those would be. To be completely honest, Lent always scares me a little bit because I make the goals to abstain from certain things and add others to my life, but I never seem to follow through all 40 days. I guess I’m afraid of failing again, so it makes me a bit apprehensive to even consider doing anything for Lent. Does any of this make sense?

Scout :tiphat:
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Yep! If you’re afraid of failing, how about if you take it a bit easy on yourself and give up something/add something that you are reasonably sure that you can follow through on. Don’t take on something big, only to find that you can’t do it, and feel like you are letting yourself and/or God down.
 
I heard a priest say (year after year) that the people around us should love Lent, because we’re making life so pleasant for them. How should we do this? Perhaps by mortifying our own will - being more flexible about our own needs and wants so the others are accomodated more. Perhaps by making a special effort to be cheerful. Perhaps by learning to say more positive things than negative. Give up nagging . . . what can you think of?

Scout, your idea to skip makeup made me think about what Jesus said about staying well-groomed while you are fasting so no one knows but your Father in heaven. Maybe you can change your point of view about looking pretty - focus more on making others happy than making yourself miserable. Perhaps you should keep the makeup. . . just a thought. (I have never seen you, and am in no way implying that you need makeup to look pretty, but a little touch of color is always cheerful looking.)

As Father Larry would say, happy Lent, everyone!

Betsy
 
I plan on giving up television, since it sucks up alot of my time. The time that it opens up, I want to use to pray a chaplet or rosary, as well as do more spiritual/Bible reading.

I also want to give up profanity. Perhaps instead of profanity I should tell my family I love them more, and think before I speak when listening to my friends and family talk about their situations. :hmmm:
 
I struggled with this for weeks before realizing giving up Breyer’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream would in no way bring me closer to Jesus.

So after much prayer and meditation, I decided I’ll be giving up my time.

I’m tithing one hour of my time each week to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at my local parish.

I’m currently in RCIA, have never been baptized, and this will be the first Lenten season I’ll celebrate in 40 years of life.

👍
 
baltobetsy said:
Scout, your idea to skip makeup made me think about what Jesus said about staying well-groomed while you are fasting so no one knows but your Father in heaven. Maybe you can change your point of view about looking pretty - focus more on making others happy than making yourself miserable. Perhaps you should keep the makeup. . . just a thought. (I have never seen you, and am in no way implying that you need makeup to look pretty, but a little touch of color is always cheerful looking.)

As Father Larry would say, happy Lent, everyone!

Betsy
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I wasn’t thinking about giving up makeup to make myself miserable, or to call attention to myself. What I was thinking about was my vanity and being willing to giveup looking good in other people’s eyes in order to work on looking good in God’s eyes. Sorry. I should’ve been more clear. However, I do understand your point.

Scout :tiphat:
 
LindaS said:
Chocolate and the Internet for pleasure, which means these forums! 😦 I will still use the Net for business purposes. Blessings to all.

Peace,
Linda

(18 years nicotine free! 😃 )
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Congratulations!

Actually dark chocloate is a good fasting food 😃 It is totally free of any dairy or meat product.
 
From the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia website something to contemplate before Great & Holy Lent starts…

It is a time to FAST from certain things and to FEAST on others.

It is a season in which we should…

FAST from judging other; FEAST on Christ dwelling in them.

FAST from emphasis on differences; FEAST on the unity of all life.

FAST from apparent darkness; FEAST on the reality of light.

FAST from thoughts of illness; FEAST on the healing power of God.

FAST from words that pollute; FEAST on phases that purify.

FAST from discontent; FEAST on gratitude.

FAST from anger; FEAST on patience.

FAST from pessimism; FEAST on optimism.

FAST from worry; FEAST on Divine Order.

FAST from complaining; FEAST on appreciation.

FAST from negatives; FEAST on affirmatives.

FAST from unrelenting pressures; FEAST on unceasing prayer.

FAST from hostility; FEAST on non-resistance.

FAST from bitterness; FEAST on forgiveness.

FAST from self-concern; FEAST on compassion for others.

FAST from personal anxiety; FEAST on eternal truth.

FAST from discouragement; FEAST on hope.

FAST from facts that depress; FEAST on realities that uplift.

FAST from lethargy; FEAST on enthusiasm.

FAST from suspicion; FEAST on truth.

FAST from thoughts that weaken; FEAST on promises that inspire.

FAST from shadows of sorrow; FEAST on the sunlight of serenity.

FAST from idle gossip; FEAST on purposeful silence.

William Arthur Ward
 
I found this little book at my local library, and I’m getting a lot out of it. Most of the practices I’ve heard of before, but it’s nice to have them all listed in one place with ideas about how to put them into practice in my own life. Might be a useful Lenten resource for some…

The book is…Traditions of the Ancients, Vintage Faith Practice for the 21st Century.

Author, Marcia Ford, Published by Broadman and Holman, 2006, ISBN 978-0-8054-4076-8

It is available from Amazon as well
 
opdsgt said:
I struggled with this for weeks before realizing giving up Breyer’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream would in no way bring me closer to Jesus.

So after much prayer and meditation, I decided I’ll be giving up my time.

I’m tithing one hour of my time each week to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at my local parish.

** I’m currently in RCIA, have never been baptized, and this will be the first Lenten season I’ll celebrate in 40 years of life.
**
👍
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Welcome Home!

I pray that this season of Lent will be just an awesome time for you of drawing closer to Jesus in his Eucharist through adoration.
 
I still have not decided. Last year, God provided the answer for me since the weekend before Lent after being really angry since Costco was all out of Coke, my favorite drink, I thought this is what I should give up for Lent and managed to do it. Although I think giving up Coke would be good to do again, I might try something different. I absolutely love gambling and in paticular, poker. One might even say I am addicted since it is sure one awesome rush while betting on something. I think I am going to try and give up all forms of betting for monetary value. This would unfortunately include the March Madness pool that I will respectfully decline to do this year.
 
wjp984 said:
I still have not decided. Last year, God provided the answer for me since the weekend before Lent after being really angry since Costco was all out of Coke, my favorite drink, I thought this is what I should give up for Lent and managed to do it. Although I think giving up Coke would be good to do again, I might try something different. I absolutely love gambling and in paticular, poker. One might even say I am addicted since it is sure one awesome rush while betting on something. I think I am going to try and give up all forms of betting for monetary value. This would unfortunately include the March Madness pool that I will respectfully decline to do this year.
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Why not take the money you would use for betting and give it to your Church or your favorite charity. Maybe there is a neighbor that could use some help paying a power bill during the winter. Now that would be a ‘rush’.

God bless you!
 
I am giving up the internet, especially these forums where I have been spending way too much time on, and I am going to start up my running again.
 
Pani_Rose said:
Why not take the money you would use for betting and give it to your Church or your favorite charity. Maybe there is a neighbor that could use some help paying a power bill during the winter. Now that would be a ‘rush’.

God bless you!
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well I’m a student that is financially supported by my dad and this is my last semester as an undergrad. I think I better start saving the money for myself since unlike now, next year there won’t be any time for gambling let alone the money for it once I am in law school and my dad no longer completely financially supports me. However, little things like when a group of us from our Newman Center are going to a movie but one person can’t afford it and therefore can’t go, I can offer to pay for the person so they can go with us. Little things like that I can do.
 
wjp984 said:
well I’m a student that is financially supported by my dad and this is my last semester as an undergrad. I think I better start saving the money for myself since unlike now, next year there won’t be any time for gambling let alone the money for it once I am in law school and my dad no longer completely financially supports me. However, little things like when a group of us from our Newman Center are going to a movie but one person can’t afford it and therefore can’t go, I can offer to pay for the person so they can go with us. Little things like that I can do.
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Amen, such joy simple things bring to our Lord. I applaud you as a young adult being aware of the needs of others ( don’t let anyone use you for a door mat) but it is such a blessing to a tired student to have someone be generous.

God is in the provision and giving business. You can never outdo him. 👍
 
Great thread with a lot of good ideas!

I usually build an “easter basket” of stuff. For this year:
  • television - I love television (mostly EWTN, Science/Learning channel, food network, and sports)
    This one hurts and thus is a really good sacrifice for me.
    2nd year doing this
  • Coffee - likewise a toughy for me, especially after church on Sunday morning, and our big extended family dinners Sunday night
    4th year doing this
  • Talk Radio - i drive a lot for work and so this is tough. I substitute the Rosary! I leave myself the caveat that if I am falling asleep on a long drive I can switch it on. Funny story,
    last year toward the end of Lent I actually had a dream that I was listening to Mike & the Mad Dog (NYC sports show) !
    2nd year doing this
  • Eating between meals - another toughie. I work from home when not on the road and the “snack cabinet” calls to me all day long.
    2nd year doing this
New for this year
  • Chicken Wings - usually once a week - my favorite meal.
Unfortunately - I am also giving up Daily Mass. Our pastor is now all alone and 5 months from retirement, and he had to give up the 7am daily mass. Try as I might, I can’t seem to find anyplace with a daily mass schedule I can fit into work requirements. I have been attending daily mass for lent for 5 or 6 years, and I will really miss this.
 
Scout
I think I’m going to give-up defending myself (not in the physical sense, mind you). I’ve noticed lately that I seem to get very defensive in certain circumstances, so I thought that giving up trying to defend myself in everything I do would be a good sacrifice.
Click to expand...
This is something that has hit me this week-end. I ended up down at the town library, and I was drawn to an audio-book oc CD titled, "Non-Violence:twenty-five lessons from the history of a dangerous idea by Mark Kulansky, foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

I started listening to it immediately and was taken by much of the wisdom within it.

One of the things that struck me were the words of Gandhi, where he said that nonviolence requires a person of spiritual discipline, who can then over come an oppressor. Those who are weak, are obligated to defend themselves.

It made me realise how spiritually undisciplined I’ve been lately. Sure, I do my morning and evening prayers, but I’m slack on mental prayer, and I never do any sort of fasting or penance. If persecution were to come my way, I’m sure I would not have what it takes to persevere.

So, for Lent, I will ask the Lord to strengthen me spiritually. I’ll do my lenten fasting and penances, but will also try to focus on non-violence, that is, not being defensive and argumentative.

Jim
 
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