Lent and 'giving something up' - ****Religion Mentioned****

amymom wrote: So who 'gives something up' for Lent?
We have always gone with doing good deeds or adding good acts to our routine during Lent. More than giving up a type of food or some such thing. In our religion (my children & I are Catholic) we abstain from eating meat on Fridays. As a family we have decided to make time for family prayer each day. And I just today decided to give up complaining. Boy that will be difficult. But I guess that is what Lent is about.

What about you?

Boo&BugsMom replied: We don't do Lent, but I wanted to say I think it's awesome you are having a family prayer time.

redchief replied: We also give up meat on Fridays. I usually take a little more prayer time too, but life is so hectic this year that's been really tough. Hmmm... maybe I should give up complaining too.

BabyOwen427 replied: My dh grew up catholic and I grew up methodist so we honor the no meat on Fridays thing too. We gave up sex to focus more on the love and appreciation we have for eachother and not just the physical stuff. We'll see how that goes

funmusicgirl replied: i know its been done, but im giving up chocolate

lesliesmom replied: I'm not sure about giving anything up this year. Haven't really thought about it. My family is also going to start doing the meditation/prayer time. Our church has devotional books for Lent so we are going to try and follow that.

mom21kid2dogs replied: We do both "giving up" and adding something.

I gave up eating after supper. Funny Lent story. I asked O what she was planning to give up and she said "Well, it sure won't be my sweet mom, if that's what you're thinking!" No O, I knew nothing could part you and your daily sweet!! She IS Daddy's girl!

I'm doing the same thing I did last year. Getting reconnected with someone I've lost touch with. I pick a new person every week and give 'em a call and catch up.

With O we are doing a kid's Lenten book that has both prayers and activities in it.

grapfruit replied: I am going to try to not cuss. I think that I probably shouldn't be cussing to BEGIN with, but you know. So we'll see how this goes. I'm also going to try and exercise more too...

amymom replied:
How does this go? Have you kept in touch with some that you contacted last year?

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Some are old friends, work friends, some are just family members that I never see because of distance, etc. I just have this whole passel of people that I think of often but hadn't heard from in a long time. Last year I made a list and started reconnecting. Actually, I have kept in touch with the 6 I called last year~if nothing more than few emails through this year, some more, some less. I still had some left over that I "meant" to get to but didn't so I'm at it again. Guess I'm technically "The Queen of Good Intentions"! I always mean to get in touch, but life gets in they way!!

mom21kid2dogs replied:
My sister told me this is what she always does. She claims it's a "short" Lent that way. For her it's over by Friday (today)

amymom replied:
That is me exactly!! I may use your idea. I really like it. Thank you!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: It's pretty obvious I don't give anything up...I like the idea though!

kimberley replied: i abstain from meat on fridays but don't hold the kids to that since they are not great veggie or fish lovers. i have given up sweets of all kind.. cookies, chocolate, cake, candy, chips. and of course plan to pray more and be more helpful and patient with people.. and that is hard where i work LOL.

james has given up chocolate and jacob will try to keep his room clean and stop chewing his sleeves.. he is not doing so well lol.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I once had a priest who told us he was giving up being a camel jockey. I don't give anything up anymore, but I am planning on spending more time in daily prayer/devotion. And I'm going to participate in the Good Friday prayer vigil at church. Our church does a 24 hour vigil in 30 or 60 minute blocks. It's a wonderfully peaceful/prayerful time.

Kentuckychick replied: Well, I'm Catholic and have been my whole life... We've always done the "no meat on Fridays" thing and on Ash Wednesday.

This year though apparently I've given up giving up meat of Fridays because well... I just finished eating chicken and mashed potatoes... and I had chicken pasta for lunch today

Lol... so I suppose I'll have to try again next week!
Otherwise I'm just going to try to do a good deed each day.