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| Ash Wednesday: The First day of Lent |  |
| Location: Blogs Leanne's Blog |
 | | Posted by: Leanne | 2/6/2008 5:02 AM | The season of Lent is a time set apart by Christians to prepare our hearts and souls for the celebration of Easter. The season begins on Ash Wednesday (February 6th this year) and lasts 40 days until Easter Sunday. It is a custom and tradition to give something up during Lent.
It is often thought of as a time to "make ourselves suffer" as Jesus did as he died on the cross. But what the "giving up" is actually all about is helping us to focus on Jesus, God and remember to pray often during this sacred season.
We give up something during Lent that is a difficult thing for us to give up. Things like gossiping, eating chocolate, and giving up pop are often favorites to try and do without. The trick is that we will miss these things or accidentally eat something we gave up or gossip when we promised ourselves we would not.
And when we slip up, or when we are tempted to break our Lenten promise, we are reminded to pray and reflect about Jesus, God and where we are in our spiritual journey.
The things we give up aren't to make us us suffer but rather to remind us that this is a holy season.
If you aren't big into the whole "giving up" part of Lent, you can also wear a pin or bracelet or light a candle to remind yourself to pray and that this is a holy time.
These forty days are important, not because we are to suffer, but because we are invited to set aside holy time--40 days where we pray a bit more, try and make time to reflect about God's love for us.
Whatever you use to remind yourself that this is holy season, I pray you and I will all find it to be a time where we grow in our faith and spirituality. May God bless you and your loved ones during this holy Lenten season! | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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