Lent is a time for more prayer, extra fasting, and more focused alms giving. Translation for those who may not be catholic: for six weeks before Easter we prepare our hearts for Jesus by doing more prayers and/or bible studies. We do some self-denial and more fasting than other seasons of the year. We give to charity in a more thoughtful or prayerful way than the rest of the year. It is a beautiful season when Catholics and many other Christians together do these things to bring ourselves more in union with Christ.

There are so many ways to pray and study the Bible. There are also hundreds of good charities to donate time or money to. In this post I have only focused on sharing some of the self-denial, or what to give up for Lent, ideas I have had. This is in no way meant to make the prayer and alms giving traditions seem less important! Maybe those topics will be a post for another day.

There is something so satisfying in denying ourselves. It is meant to make us little, take away excess, and give us strength. It can help us open up to more from God when we give ourselves less. It’s really great to do this all year round but Lent is a special time to unite ourselves with Jesus and His suffering for us in the passion (His suffering and crucifixion).

Each year I spend quite some time deciding what one thing to give up for Lent. I make a list and have a hard time picking just one but I think that’s part of the challenge. It’s easy to give up or give in when you have too many things you’re trying to do. So I narrow it to just one. Sometimes it seems silly at first only to prove after six weeks it was actually very hard to do. Some years I have picked something I hope will become a habit after Lent. Other years I pick something that will make me appreciate what I have again after six weeks away from it.

Many of us give up chocolate and sweets for lent. When I do this I feel wonderful by the second week of Lent. By the end of Lent I feel better than ever. Then it is Easter and we celebrate with so many sweets and chocolates that I again am hooked and feel a bit gross and sugary again. Maybe I’ll try this again and hope I can make it stick. I do like to pick a sacrifice that I can continue after Lent. One that can become a new healthy and holy habit.

One year I decided to give up time everyday to pray the Rosary. Sound overwhelming? 15-20 minutes a day of quiet uninterrupted time to pray. All of us are busy and it can sound impossible to add another task in, but it worked. After that Lent I have rarely missed a day of the Rosary. It has become precious time with Jesus that I don’t want to go without.

Another Lent I decided I would not use plastic bags. I bought six heavy-duty cloth grocery bags and stuck to my guns. Even at the embarrassment of my children. At first it was hard to remember to bring my new bags into the store. So when I checked out and realized I had forgotten them I would ask the cashier to watch my stuff while I quick ran out the car to fetch my bags. If I just had a few items and forgot my bags in the car I would carry them out in my arms. Finally the kids started to remind me to take my bags in so they wouldn’t be mortified by their crazy mother again. This habit stuck as well and now 95 percent of the time I use my cloth bags.

Sometimes I have chosen things that I do not continue after Lent but they are things that have brought me closer to God because my gratitude and appreciation grows as the suffering brings me closer to God. Once I gave up socks. It was awful! Stinky, sweaty, cold feet for six weeks. Another time I gave up my pillow. This too was quite uncomfortable. There was a year I decided I was buying too much. I gave up buying extra items. So for six weeks I had to remind myself to only buy the necessities. These simple luxuries when taken away filled me with a longing for them. That is the point right? To create a longing that can translate into a longing for God.

There was one Lent when I was given a cross to bear that was so heavy I didn’t pick anything else to give up. My mom was put on hospice care and I devoted my time to her. There are years when our life circumstances demand almost more sacrifice than we can take but God gets us through when we allow Him to. So don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t come up with one thing to give up because your life is already sacrificial. In these times giving up a pillow or candy seems quite insignificant. However, every sacrifice great or small can be used by God!

This year my daughter and I decided to give up something together. We debated and finally we have agreed to not sit on chairs or couches. We will be sitting on the floor and standing for six weeks. I anticipate this is going to be harder than it seems. I am envisioning some strange looks in waiting rooms and a sore backside but it’s about a little suffering. I just have to look at the cross and realize my little suffering isn’t so bad.

I love Lent because in denying ourselves we can become holier people, closer to God, because by cleaning out the excess and/or comfort in our lives we make room for Jesus to dwell in us. And with our little sacrifices we become closer to the suffering of Christ which can unite us more strongly to His love.

Blessings to you this lent!!

If you are still looking for ideas of something to give up for lent here is a list of some concrete possibilities:

No Chairs or Couches

No sleeping past your alarm

No pillow

No socks

No chocolate

No plastic bags

No sugar

No blankets

No mattress

No silverware

No make-up

No snacks

No unnecessary purchases

No Radio

No TV

The options are endless….

(Photo from pixabay.com)