What are you giving up or doing for Lent?

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Muzhik said:
Steph, you’re pregnant. I think you’re suffering enough. You don’t need to make time to focus on your prayer life; rather, you should try to make a prayer out of what you’re doing.

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That’s what I told DH last night. Between working 30 hours a week, taking care of a house, a husband, and a toddler, I can’t find any time to myself, let alone 20 minutes to pray (except when I’m at work not doing work :o ). I need to find a way to make my whole day a prayer, to offer it up, to be more holy day to day. I want to read Holiness for Housewives, along with several other books I’ve aquired over the past year or so. I just need to find the time. Maybe that should be my lenton resolution - to read more spiritual works. 🙂
 
im givning up how do i say this? impure actions. and to help ensure that i will read my bible through (not skipping around) and pray a daily rosary. along with the whol fasting today and no meat on fridays.
 
I’m giving up using my credit and debit cards for Lent. This is pretty huge for me since I use them for everything and it has gotten to the point that I have no clue how much I spend, how much I over spend or anything of the sort. I have no clue what my budget is. I pay off my CC with my line of credit so that’s racked up a 10K balance, ie. debt. This credit card thing is a thorn on my side so it’s time I give it up.

WRT doing more… well, now that I won’t be wasting time looking for sales and buying things, I will have time to do my spiritual readings, prayers, and devotionals. Things I already do but now I can do more!! 😃
 
Giving up Disneyland (I usually go at least every twice a week).
Following my diet exactly.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Friday Fast (to avoid having to eat high-carbs or a lot of fish (gross!).
 
quiet52 said:
During this season we are encouraged to grow closer to our Lord through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

Some examples of working on prayer:
  • disciplining ourselves to give a certain amount of time each day for fervent prayer – and be determined to pray throughout the day
  • pray particular devotions, such as the rosary, or Adoration before the Eucharist
  • attend weekday Mass(es)
  • decide to praise and thank God a certain number of times daily
  • decide to intercede in prayer for others daily
    (etc.)
Some examples of almsgiving:
  • share materially with those in need (money, food, etc.)
  • decide to be kind to coworkers, family members, etc.
  • spend a few extra hours a week with someone lonely; spend more time phoning loved ones
  • be other-centered through some sacrificial means every day
Some examples of fasting (besides Ash Wednesday and Good Friday):
  • give up a certain food
  • give up uncharitable behavior
  • give up or lesson a bad habit (television) and develop a positive one (1/2 hour daily exercise)
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Great thread. Inspiring. Feel bad quoting only one person. This one struck home.
 
KinseyMcGuire said:
Well, as a prodgical Catholic, this is the first Lent since my teens that I’ve given up something. So I didn’t want to just give something up like TV or pop that I would pick up again with no guilt on the Monday after Easter. I wanted to give up something that would make me a better Christian. I was wondering what this would be when a few nights ago my mother pointed out a Bible passage about foul language. Isn’t it wonderful how God just bonks you over the head with the answer sometimes.? 👍

I am giving up swearing. All profanities, and only the use of “Hell” and “damn” in their religious meanings. I’m also cutting out the “OMGs” and any use of God’s name that isn’t purposefully praise or petition or respectful conversation about Him. And the thing is…I’m not picking these things back up again. 🙂

I’m doing it because of a great quote by St. Francis I read here last week: “Preach the Gospel constantly; when necessary use words.” So I’ve been thinking, how can I SHOW my faith? And how can I be a positive influence to others by my faith?

I’m 25 years old, and a 25 year old that doesn’t swear is a rare thing and sure to stick out after awhile. But I want it to stick out because I’m following God’s rules, not society’s distortions of what I should be. It says right in the Bible that God wants me to keep a clean mouth beyound what I’ve done since my teenage years of “anything not blasphmey goes”. I can do better then that, with God strenghtening me. 🙂

Also, swearing is a thorn in my side for different reasons. I have Tourette’s Syndrome. When I say that, most of you will think of people who scream profanities, but in fact only about 30% of us suffer from coprohailia. I’ve had so many people ask me if I scream swear words over the years and I have to tell them I swear by choice. But do they believe that? I hate that sterotype SO much and I’ve come to conclusion it’s very hypocritical for me to turn around and feed the sterotype by making sailors blush with my language on purpose!

Anyone else giving up something they hope to drop for good, and not just for Lent? 🙂
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GOOD FOR YOU! I have been blessed with parents who never allowed anything worse than stupid in our house, so I am one of the few young people I know that does not cuss. You will be amazed at how much people do it and how they start to blush or stop cussing when they are around people that don’t. It amazes me how considerate people can be of my feelings on the subject. Even people much older than me (I am 18) will stumble over their words to make sure they don’t cuss around me. It is really nice.
I don’t feel bad for making people feel bad for doing something bad. It is just one of the ways that God has blessed me and through me others. It is by no merit of my own so I am not bragging.
Thank you so much for taking this pledge. It is wonderful.
I will pray that you will be able to keep this pledge.

As far as my Lenten fast, I am giving up snacking (I did not believe how hard it was today, so I made that decision today), I am also going to watch no more than an hour and a half (usually no more than an hour) of TV per day. I am giving up soda and I am going to spend at least half an hour each day with my 6 year old sister, doing whatever she wants me to do.
 
Ok, after speaking to my friend today … I am ashamed to say that I even have to admit that I am a huge offender, but … I am giving up “illegal downloading” … I am a music and film buff and … am also a student, lol. I buy a lot of music and a lot of dvds, but I also download a lot of things… And I mean a lot… So we resolved that I will not be downloading anything illegal for Lent and we will see how I go after the period has ended … and the time that I would normally spend listening to new music or watching movies will be spent in prayer and reflection.

I am allowed only to download music with itunes cards that have been prepaid for out of my OWN money… lol.
 
I’m giving up telling you all what I gave up. But I’m sure glad the
rest of you didn’t give that up - thanks!🙂
 
Meat on Fridays
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Multiple people have mentioned giving this up, and I have to wonder why. It’s not like it’s an optional thing, during Lent.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight
 
Ne_OrangeKnight said:
Multiple people have mentioned giving this up, and I have to wonder why. It’s not like it’s an optional thing, during Lent.
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I know, however many people don’t do it anymore, so I thought it would be worth mentioning.
 
I am also giving up TV on Fridays, and I will abstain from tea from the midnight of Good Friday until after I go to Easter Mass. I’ll do the same for TV on Good Friday. For anyone who knows me, giving up tea for two days is going to be torture!!!
 
What I give up every year…hot watermelon and cold gravy!😃

😃 😃

Seriously, I love my wine. I pour myself a glass every evening when I start dinner and have another glass with dinner. So, that is what I gave up for Lent.

DS just got a PS3 for his birthday and has decided to give it up for Lent.

DD gave up snacking. This is a tough one b/c she goes to swim practice right after school every week day having had lunch at 11:45. I think she almost needs a healthy snack between school and practice. It’s a two hour practice. But she won’t do it. Should I push it?
 
Giving up: Fast food restaurants of any kind, complaining, getting hooked into gossip/speaking ill of others with coworkers (or anyone)

Taking up: Getting to mass early to recite the rosary every Sunday, Perpetual Adoration once a week, buying at least two extra items every trip to the supermarket for the box at church.
 
This year instead of food, i am going to go out of my way to help someone hurting or in need. Like i just saw a old friend i havent seen in years, she is really in a rut. I am going to see if she wants to go to bible study with me. Maybe try to help her get out of her depression. I know i cant expect miracles. But some times just someone to really lend a ear. Then there are alot of older people alone Im going to go out of my way for them… Whatever comes up every week and believe it or not something keeps comming up.
 
Little_Mary said:
DD gave up snacking. This is a tough one b/c she goes to swim practice right after school every week day having had lunch at 11:45. I think she almost needs a healthy snack between school and practice. It’s a two hour practice. But she won’t do it. Should I push it?
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My sisters and I decided to skip lunch at school and wait until we get home to eat lunch (around 2:00) So she could try eating her lunch in between school and practice instead of so early in the morning. Maybe just have a piece of gum at lunch time. That is what my two sisters and I have done and it really helps to keep us from snacking.👍
 
DD gave up snacking. This is a tough one b/c she goes to swim practice right after school every week day having had lunch at 11:45. I think she almost needs a healthy snack between school and practice. It’s a two hour practice. But she won’t do it. Should I push it?

If she starts feeling low on energy, or faint, which she probably will, you could maybe explain the fasting also needs to be accompanied with prudence - for example, a super old person isn’t going to give up food all day - that would be dangerous! So maybe your daughter could still have a snack, but not one she enjoys, like maybe just some dry whole-grain bread with plain tuna on it - no mayo, no relish, no mustard. Or something equally boring, but nourishing - working out on no food makes for danger! And God doesn’t want that.
 
If she starts feeling low on energy, or faint, which she probably will, you could maybe explain the fasting also needs to be accompanied with prudence - for example, a super old person isn’t going to give up food all day - that would be dangerous! So maybe your daughter could still have a snack, but not one she enjoys, like maybe just some dry whole-grain bread with plain tuna on it - no mayo, no relish, no mustard. Or something equally boring, but nourishing - working out on no food makes for danger! And God doesn’t want that.
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Yep, that’s what I’m thinking. She eats at 11:45, stays in school until 3pm then goes straight to the pool for 4pm practice and doesn’t finish until 6pm. Loooong day!!

Good ideas, thanks.

Thanks, too, Margarite…I’ll get her some gum too!
 
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