This year for Lent my family is trying something new. For the period of Lent, we've decided to put a moratorium on our spending. We'll pay bills and buy groceries, of course, but trips to Target, Wal-mart, the mall...all out. We're cutting all fast food, take-out, coffee trips, liquor store runs, the center of Sam's, etc. We spend a ton of money on sitters to attend meetings and social functions, so whatever can't be traded with family members or other families...out. Valentine's day will be homemade this year and all family outings will be walks and parks. We're consolidating driving trips and using the SUV only when necessary. We talked with Joe, who will soon be four, about turning off lights as we leave rooms, wearing our clothes until they are really dirty, keeping the thermostat down and wearing extra layers and reusing and recycling whatever we can...how being a good steward of the earth is an excellent way to honor God. Each sacrifice should remind us of His grace and mercy. The money we save will then go to Lift High the Cross. I'm nervous and excited about this Lenten challenge; I've always taken on a solo sacrifice: no caffeine, no fast food, no cursing, so involving the entire family will, with hope, prove fruitful!
Use this space to share other ideas about how your family is using Lent to grow closer to Christ. We all need more ideas!
2 comments:
Wow - I commend you on your Lenten promise! That sounds like it will be a serious challenge, one that I am not ready to embark on at this point...but what I am trying to do is say the rosary every day. Not a big thing, I know, but something that would be big for me.
As a family we try to "flower the cross." We cut a cross out of brown foam and put it in our celebration table. The kids then can add a flower any time they do something to prepare for Easter. We try to keep the things they do categorized into "sacrifice" (giving something up, letting a sister have the bigger piece, etc), "sharing" (giving money to the poor, sharing at school or home without being asked, etc.) and "prayer" (a good Mass, saying the rosary, adoration, etc).
Personally, I'm trying to use Lent to learn more about the Divine Mercy devotion by reading St. Faustina's Diary a little each day.
But, halfway into Lent, I don't feel like I'm doing enough. Then I remind myself that we are going on Day 11 of family sickness. Dealing with coughs, stuffy noses, fevers and fatigue from everyone in the family has definitely taken all my energy. Jimmy missed every day of school last week except the one day he went and proceeded to throw up all over. Maybe, this Lent, I'm just called to accept the daily little crosses that come with winter in Kansas. It's certainly not what I planned, nor even promised, but hopefully it will prove to be a fruitful preparation for the Great Feast of Easter. I hope we all are having a blessed preparation.
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