"Give” and Not Just "Give Up” During Lent
There are many of us that are aware that ‘Ash Wednesday’ is on February 18th, marking the first day of
‘Lent’, that leads all of us to approximately 40 days, not counting Sundays, until the celebration of
‘Easter’! The observance of Lent, in our country especially, is a Christian holy time, observed annually by
many people of faith in the Catholic, Methodist, Church of God. Anglican, Lutheran, Nazarene and many
other denominations. This holy season is defined as a Period of Fasting, Prayer, Daily Devotions and for
many, a ‘Lentil Sacrifice Period’, until the arrival of Easter. Ash Wednesday takes its name from the
placing of ashes in the sign of the cross on foreheads of individuals in the solemn reminder that God
‘made us all, that we are dust, and to dust we shall return’. The tradition of ‘making the ashes’, is to burn
the palm frons from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration, the week prior to Easter, when
traditionally Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem through the East gate, where people cheered Him and
laid palm branches before Him.
During the time of ‘Lent’, we should be reminded constantly of values in ourselves in every relationship
we are a part of, whether it be our spouse, family, friends or simply those around us. We all need to focus
on all we do, think and say to do, as Christ commanded us through the Apostle Paul,, "to love one
another as He loves us.” The Scriptures invite us to discover, and for many, rediscover what love really is.
Many of us get caught up in the traditions of these ‘holy days’, but what about our actions during the
other 11 months of the year? How do we then share the love He taught us in the scriptures with those
around us?
You may survey yourselves in a very complimentary way, with your existing faith in Christ, helping you live
responsibly, and now you are possibly sitting back and enjoying the fruits of your lifestyle and beliefs. So,
what more could you possibly need? What more can the Gospel contribute to your life in the here and
now than it already has?
Lent is a launching pad for making new spiritual steps towards better Christian values in our relationships
and is a celebration of those we love!
Here are five possible things "you could Give and Not Give Up this year for Lent”:
- Pray for your loved ones, family, friends and those who have needs the most:
- Do works of ‘Kindness’ for those around you: Give more of yourself for others you love, know or even don’t know
- Live the Concept of Expanded Virtues: Take time during this year’s season of Lent to evaluate the kind of behaviors you are exhibiting daily to grow Faith, Hope, Love, Gratitude, Generosity and more in the lives of others
- Celebrate Relationships: Developing and maintaining positive relationships is a gift of hope to other’s lives
- Fasting, Prayers and Devotionals: All things are possible through the strength of these three, consider "Giving them these as gifts instead of giving up anything for this year’s Lent”
Just as we prepare for the joys of the Christmas Season to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also prepare
for two of the most important days of the Christian year, Lent and Easter. Lent is a time that offers us an
opportunity to come to terms with the human conditions we may have spent the rest of the year running
from and brings our need for our Savior. Lent is also a time to open our hearts wider and understand our
Lord and Savior much deeper. We must also realize that Lent is a time of reconnection and an
opportunity to seriously contemplate what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, did for us on the cross! We
must also understand that Lent also points us to the ‘Hope of the Resurrection’ and the day when every
tear will be dried!
It is by His Grace we are saved…..by His Word we should live……and by His Will we serve others….
