If you follow me on Twitter you will have noticed by now that I am a Catholic girl and while I know that Catholics are not the only ones to practice Lent I still think that I need to share what I learned in Catholic school about this religious season.
With Ash Wednesday upon us most of us have decided what to give up or are scrambling to figure it out. I always hear people saying well I don't know what to give up. But we don't always have to give things up we can also add things!
The misconception is that Lent is about depriving ourselves of things we love when really it's about setting aside materialist things to get closer to God.
So if you can't think of something to give up why not add something. Set aside 15 minutes everyday to pray or volunteer your time.
I guess what bothers me the most is that people take this time of year to try and complain and boast about how hard it is to give things up. We shouldn't do it for bragging rights we should do it because it's what's in our hearts otherwise don't bother. You will be rewarded by Him not by your peers.
Thank you for listening to my two cents and have a wonderful Ash Wednesday and Lenten season!!
As Always, Stay Classy
XOXO
Hayley
I am not Catholic, but I think Lent is great! I love the idea of adding something like Bible Study instead of depriving myself of chocolate!
ReplyDeleteI think Lent is a great way for EVERYONE to connect with God. And adding a bible study is a great idea!
DeleteI go to a Baptist church that practices lent. It's opened my eyes to the beauty and purpose of lent. The first year I didn't think I could do the whole season, so I just fasted from media (TV, internet) good Friday through Easter Sunday...and then I learned that the early church actually fasted that way (Good Friday through Sunday - though they fasted from food) before they started doing the longer lenten fast. It made me feel like I'd discovered something deep and meaningful. Now I do a "lighter" full lenten fast, but still do the full media fast every Good Friday through Easter Sunday, because it's become meaningful to me.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your story!! If their is no meaning behind what you're giving up what is the point of even doing it!
DeletePS: Forgot the whole reason I can to your blog. You had mentioned that the list of human trafficking bills in congress was helpful. Well, I added one more bill (the first one, about Child Soldiers).
ReplyDeleteGreat post Hayley! I am teaching at a Catholic high school and we got our ashes today! It is funny that you talk about not having to give something up because I decided that I was going to add prayer everyday to my routine for lent!! Great post! I love that you aren't afraid to just say what you want to!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Wednesday and a great lent!!
Thank you so much Liz!! That's awesome that you teach at a Catholic High School!! I've learned so much about you from our exchanges :)
DeleteGreat post!! I am glad I ran across your Bloggy :))
ReplyDeleteI am a Catholic as well and am excited for the Lent season to begin. God Bless.
Thank you!!
Deletegreat post!!! as a catholic, i do respect our traditions and its such a powerful posy sweetie... remembering that we came out of nothing and to nothing we will return... i, too studied in a catholic school in college and it actually strengthen my faith and has made me a more mature christian.. happy ash wednesday!!!
ReplyDeletelove your blog!!! following you now.. hope you could visit my blog too.. kisses!!!
That's great that it strengthened your faith! And I'll check it out!
DeleteWell said! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jackie!
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