Does anyone here give up anything for Lent?

kjvogelsang

I need some ideas because I am running out of good ones.

I have given up pop, fried food, alll candy and coffee in the past. Instead of giving something up, I have also gone to church weekly and have volunteered at a local food bank as a "feel good" thing for me.

BarefootBlueJeanLife

I am starting my 40 day journey on the Love Dare to try and help myself to make my marriage a better institution with my husband and the Lord.

I am abstaining from Soda, Sweets, Alcohol, and gossiping *which lately I have been doing a lot.

aamadore

Oh, I like the idea of giving up gossiping. Good one.

stacey.taylor

I don't, but from what I understand, the concept is to give up something you enjoy (as a form of penitence) in order to focus your efforts on Christ/the coming crucifiction, correct?  What about something like TV (especially if you have must-watch shows) or celebrity magazines, or something else similar (guilty vice type thing)? 

I do have a question...I used to have a more negative opinion about giving up something b/c all the girls in college would give up sweets/bad-for-you food in order to lose weight during Lent.  The motivations seemed wrong to me.  I'm honestly curious--why do people do this? 

BarefootBlueJeanLife

stacey.taylor:

I don't, but from what I understand, the concept is to give up something you enjoy (as a form of penitence) in order to focus your efforts on Christ/the coming crucifiction, correct?  What about something like TV (especially if you have must-watch shows) or celebrity magazines, or something else similar (guilty vice type thing)? 

I do have a question...I used to have a more negative opinion about giving up something b/c all the girls in college would give up sweets/bad-for-you food in order to lose weight during Lent.  The motivations seemed wrong to me.  I'm honestly curious--why do people do this? 

At church Sunday our pastor said this: "We are at that time of the year when we are invited to test our inner freedom and to question the notion: I can take it, or leave it. Try that with pornography, alcohol, complaining, gossiping, anger, gambling. What habits make me hard to live with?

Lent is about regaining self-control, especially in those areas that damage others. We don't admire those whose appetites or habits lead them by the nose."

As a Christian I believe that through prayer, penance, repentance, alms-giving and self-denial that we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ on Easter Sunday. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence.

So I choose things I am addicted to like soda or sweets and then I chose gossip because I find myself doing it a lot at work and that makes me hard to live with as he says. Hope that helps. 

stacey.taylor

BarefootBlueJeanLife:

stacey.taylor:

I don't, but from what I understand, the concept is to give up something you enjoy (as a form of penitence) in order to focus your efforts on Christ/the coming crucifiction, correct?  What about something like TV (especially if you have must-watch shows) or celebrity magazines, or something else similar (guilty vice type thing)? 

I do have a question...I used to have a more negative opinion about giving up something b/c all the girls in college would give up sweets/bad-for-you food in order to lose weight during Lent.  The motivations seemed wrong to me.  I'm honestly curious--why do people do this? 

At church Sunday our pastor said this: "We are at that time of the year when we are invited to test our inner freedom and to question the notion: I can take it, or leave it. Try that with pornography, alcohol, complaining, gossiping, anger, gambling. What habits make me hard to live with?

Lent is about regaining self-control, especially in those areas that damage others. We don't admire those whose appetites or habits lead them by the nose."

As a Christian I believe that through prayer, penance, repentance, alms-giving and self-denial that we make ourselves ready for the return of Christ on Easter Sunday. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence.

So I choose things I am addicted to like soda or sweets and then I chose gossip because I find myself doing it a lot at work and that makes me hard to live with as he says. Hope that helps. 

That makes sense.  I get the concept and definitely appreciate it.  I find that I admire people who do it for the right reasons.

SecretServiceWife

I'm giving up alcohol (last year I lost 10 lbs as a result - added bonus!)  But in addition to that, i'm going to *attempt* to simplify my life.  Which means cleaning out closets/drawers/etc and getting rid of things I don't need and donating things that are worth donating.

We donate year round - but this is just something extra that will help others, while helping myself.

 

UDscoobychick

Sweets, junk food, and meat.

SecretServiceWife

stacey.taylor:

I do have a question...I used to have a more negative opinion about giving up something b/c all the girls in college would give up sweets/bad-for-you food in order to lose weight during Lent.  The motivations seemed wrong to me.  I'm honestly curious--why do people do this? 

I would say giving up crappy food in order to lose weight is doing it for the wrong reasons.

I give up something I do a lot (like drinking) in order to go without.  Last year I noticed I lost weight, but i'm not doing it this year because I lost weight.  I'm doing it because it's hard.

Irishcurls

Which is why I never give up things like soda or chocolate. I'm more in the "adding" camp--thinking about attending the Stations of the Cross every Friday at my church.

candreco

I'm Prebyterian, not Catholic, so I don't have a tradition of giving something up, but I generally try to use Lent as a more reflective time, and be more intentional about prayer and meditation.  My church puts out a Lenten devotional book with short pieces from congregation members that encourages meditation on a particular theme.  The result is less TV/computer time, but that's not the main goal.  Lent is more about adding meaning than taking away pleasure for me.

daisysle

I will be giving up sweets/snacks after dinner. We've gotten into a horrible habit of having a "sweet treat" after dinner almost every night. 

I was going to give up candy but since it's truly my one and only "bad" pregnancy craving, DH said I should probably not give that up. 

gabi829

One year, I gave up eating anything made out of flour. It was hard, but I actually ended up enjoying it. I find it too easy to reach for white carbs when I should be eating vegetables or protein.

 

principessa81

As far as "giving up" something, I'm giving up sweets. I've been noticing lately how much sugar I've been consuming, and let's just say the results don't look very good. However, I also prefer to add something spiritual to my daily routine during Lent, as opposed to just giving something up. This year, I've decided to pray the rosary every evening during Lent, as well as look for more opportunities to volunteer.

wifeplzak

I am giving up Law and Order and Dateline. I am sure this sounds lame but I have no idea what I will be doing with my evenings once Lucy goes to bed if I don't have these shows to watch!

DH and I decided to pick for each other this year. He picked L&O & Dateline so I picked eating out for lunch for him. He does this 3-4 times a week so I can't image how tough it will be for him. 

26summer

I'm giving up soda-I drink diet soda a lot and I've read a lot about the harmful benefits, but still continue to drink several cans a day.  The doctor also has me cutting down on my caffine so this will help with that as well.