It is once again Lent. The season of sacrifice. I haven't always been consistent with observing Lent, but this year it coincides with a large number of my goals for my new life, so I decided to give it another shot. A quick rundown of the aforementioned goals follows.
1. Improve my relationship with Christ.
2. Lose all this excess weight that has gradually built up over the last couple of years.
3. Set goals that I actually keep.
Josh is a great influence on me spiritually. He makes me want to be a better Christian and he holds me to it. Even though we have differing opinions on many things (he was raised Baptist and I was raised as a strange amalgam of Methodist and Assembly of God) he understands how I feel and respects my ideas on faith and the Bible. I've decided that I'm going to start going to church with him every Sunday, even though it is a 45 minute drive. I want our relationship to be strong not only in love, but also in our love for God.
Back to Lent... I made a deal with Josh to give up all sodas and most fast food if he would definitely quit smoking this month. He usually doesn't smoke but he slips up now and then and I've been trying to get him to stop totally. (it's a pet peeve of mine.) I really don't consider my diet my contribution to Lent. It seems like an easy way out. I was already planning to give up Cokes and most fast food so it strikes me as being a cop out for me to pass that off as a Lenten Sacrifice. I just finished reading my friend Mandi's blog about her Lenten Promises and it made me think. She was raised Catholic and of course Lent is a Catholic tradition so I feel like maybe she has more insight into the practice than I do. (Protestant that I am...) Methodists also practice Lent, in case you're wondering. She was taught about Lenten promises versus Lenten sacrifices in grade school and that sounds like a much better idea to me. So...
My Promises for Lent
1. I will be more patient and compassionate, not only at work, but also with my family and loved ones.
2. I will stop worrying about everything and turn it over to God. (That one's gonna be hard...)
3. I will control my temper! (it's horrible. I mean really awful...)
So instead of this being a season of deprivation, it's going to be more of a season of growth and learning to be this new person that I'm trying so hard to become. I know I can do it though, because I have such amazing support from such awesome people.
Hey, girl! I know you can do whatever you put your mind to do.
ReplyDeleteI love that you're getting into church wholeheartedly again. Jerry and I are going to do the same thing. There's a Methodist church a block from here that I think we will check out and see if we want to be members.
-Crystal
Like I said, Josh is a great influence on me and he makes me want to be a better person. I'm glad that you and Jerry are going back, too. And thanks so much for the support and encouragement. I miss you!
ReplyDeleteYay! I really do think Lenten promises are more constructive than Lenten sacrifices - most people just do the sacrifice part, though. I had a Catholic friend in high school who gave up sex with random partners for Lent and, of course, went right back to doing it afterwards. I think that building habits is just a better way to go about it and more fulfilling spiritually. Good luck on your journey!
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