What are you giving up for Lent?

After talking about fasting, we tried to make it more personal. I asked the kids what they wanted to give up for lent. The first answers around here included:

chips (which we rarely eat)

cleaning

homework

The 5yr yells, ”I’m not giving up ice cream!”

So I rephrased the question. “Why do other people give up things for Lent?”

5yr, “Because they are crazy.”

11yr, “If we give up something that takes time, we have more time for God.”

Time. I think that’s one of the hardest things to give. And my 11yr went on to say that we should give time as a family. We can give up something and spend that time focusing on God.

So we are giving some time every morning. We are spending that ime each day just talking about spiritual things, reading the Bible, and praying (and writing this blog together).

So, while we are going to continue thinking about how fasting might be a part of the next 40 days, we took today to just talk. I asked 5yr, “What do you think God does all day?”

She said, “I don’t know, but I do know he LOOOOOVES Justin Bieber.”

These are good conversations to have! God does love Justin because God loves the world, and he sent his son into the world so that all might have salvation. Including Justin.

Here are some other questions we talked about.

            What are some qualities we appreciate in each other?

How has God made each person in our family unique?

How do you know God loves you?

Rom. 6:23 “…gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “God shows his love for us in this way: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Give up time doing something else, and focus on God. Ask your kids a question or two. Tell them God loves them. He loves you too!

Let us know what comes up!