I had lots of Catholic friends I knew growing up and heard something of Lent, but I never really knew what it was. It wasn’t until my post-college days that I knew anyone who wasn’t Catholic who participated in Lent. It intrigued me. One year I even decided to give up chocolate for lent. It wasn’t until about a week after I had messed up that I even realized I had eaten an Oreo, so then I just gave up all together!
Fast forward several years and I was working at a Nursery and Preschool Ministry Director at our church. They decided to join forces with another local church for a huge Lent Celebration. Neither church was Catholic. Apparently Lent was a big enough deal for protestant families that I needed to check it out. Not only that, but we were in charge of helping put together a program for the kids! It was time to get busy.
What is Lent?
Lent, in essence, is 40 day period in which we prepare for Easter. 40 days?! That’s a lot! But Christmas gets a lot of hype, so why not Easter? After all, if it weren’t for the message of a risen savior on Easter, Christmas wouldn’t mean much anyway! Specifically, it is 40 days because Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan before He began His ministry. It is a time for us to self-reflect, repent, fast, and prepare our hearts for the Easter season. It’s a time that many choose something to give up as a way to deny themselves, just as Jesus denied Himself in the desert. Take heart, though. You get a break from this fast on Sundays because Sundays are a celebration of the coming Easter!
What is Ash Wednesday?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (another word you may be unfamiliar with if you are not Catholic) and goes until Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. It is called Ash Wednesday because many people rub a cross made of ashes on their foreheads. Ashes were used in the Bible as symbols of repentance and mourning.
Lent wasn't specifically mentioned in the Bible, but repentance and fasting were. Click To TweetSo I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3 NIV
Should We Celebrate Lent Too?
While Ash Wednesday and Lent were not specifically mentioned in the Bible, repentance, fasting, and preparing our hearts for Jesus was.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19 NIV
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17 NIV
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18
It seems that Jesus expects us to fast sometimes. It is a spiritual discipline that many of us Christians have gotten away from. Perhaps this might be a good time to practice it. It doesn’t have to be food–just something important to you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:8-10 NIV
Since Lent in not mandated in the Bible, the choice is a personal one. If you are convinced that it is something that might be good for your family to observe, here are a few ideas that we are doing this year. You can find more on my Lent Pinterest board.
- Follow a Lent Calendar
- Make a Lent Bible Verse Tree
- Make an Almsgiving (offering) Cross
- Make a Salt Dough Crown of Thorns to be replaced with a Crown of Jewels
Practicing Lent may be out of your comfort zone, but it will definitely be meaningful! I would love to hear how your Lent celebrations go!
Do you practice Lent? What activities do you do in preparation for Easter?
Carol Cassara says
It’s always interesting to read the take others have on the religion I was born into, but no longer practice.
Carol Cassara recently posted…Diagnosis: Insouciance
Samantha says
When my husband and I got married we started to attend his church and they practiced lent and holy oil. It was definitely different from what I was use to!
Beth@FrugalFroggie says
I am Protestant and I have celebrated Lent. BTW. The 40 days doesn’t include Sundays so it can be a mini cheat day.
Beth@FrugalFroggie recently posted…2016 Entertainment.com Coupon Books
Lexie Lane says
That’s interesting, never heard lent before. Good thing you shared it.
De says
My husband and his family celebrate lent. I was raised a different denomination so was briefly aware of thr practice but in detail. This has cleared up more than my husband cold explain.
Mama Brucks says
Thanks for this! I grew up going to a catholic school but was raised protestant so I love that we are showing the connection between the two!
Mama Brucks recently posted…Wild Time Wednesday: A Team Kid Brucks’ Series Week #2
Jeanine says
I don’t really know much about lent, but I’ve been learning a bit here and there. We aren’t a religious family, but it’s interesting to learn about.
OurFamilyWorld says
Our family is Catholic. Yes, we participate in lent.
OurFamilyWorld recently posted…5 Things You Need to Know About Your Teens’ Friends
Rachel says
I went to Catholic school but was never Catholic, so Lent was a major event for my friends. Even though many events are specifically from non-Protestant sources, it’s always a good idea to take captive everyday (be it that day or some other day) for Christ. These are great ideas on what to do for Lent!
Rachel recently posted…Cute Vintage Baby & Toddler Style
Leigh says
I like to focus on Lent as a season of spiritual preparation for Easter. This year I’m reading through the book of John slowly—just half a chapter or so a day. I’m also trying to focus on “noisy contemplation”–practicing being aware of God in the midst of the chaos and the noise.
andrea says
i’m a non-denom Christian – and we have never celebrated Lent before – but it’s great to learn all about the traditions 😀
andrea recently posted…Silk Yogurt – Get A Coupon For A Free One!
Caroline @ In Due Time says
Thank you for the reminder of what Lent is! I do not participate in lent, but of course always love a reason to spend more time with HIM!
Caroline @ In Due Time recently posted…Blessed Am I
Laura P. says
I do not participate in lent but think if it is done out of pure motives and not just out of tradition it can be a good time to recognize and focus on the Lord instead of looking to something else that we commonly might for fulfillment.
admin says
I agree totally. This is new for us. Even though I knew about it, this is the first year we are participating fully as a family. I think it will give Easter a lot more meaning!
Jasmine Watts says
Never heard lent before, but it’s interesting to learn about. Thanks for sharing with us!!
Jasmine Watts recently posted…5 Most Romantic Nicholas Sparks Movies of All Time
Jed says
Our family has never celebrated Lent, but it’s a great idea. What an excellent way to Celebrate the days leading up to the Resurrection. Thanks for helping me to better understand what Lent is all about.
Trish says
Tara
So glad to have you link up with us this week.
I am one of those who didn’t grow up observing Lent, nor did I grow up in a liturgical church. After almost 20 years of celebrating Advent in one way or another I learned about the season of Lent. I love Advent…counting down the days….focusing on Christ’s birth and looking forward to His second coming.
As I learned about Lent, it became another season in which I could focus on the reason WHY He came. We count down to Christ’s Resurrection. The moment in which He conquered sin and death! Thereby giving us salvation, grace and hope!
I think too often we worry about the traditions and are afraid of becoming religious or Pharisaical and don’t even give them a second thought. Yet, in many of the Church’s traditions are nuggets of gold we by pass in the process.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each year as I seek Him during Lent. Growing closer to Christ through fasting and praying. Immersing myself in the Gospels and studying Christ’s ministry has been a blessing for both me and my family.
We also can do various “practices” to identify with His ministry, like our daily family devotionals surrounding a Resurrection/Lent Tree and building our Lenten Garden. These have become like putting up the Christmas Tree, decorating the house, building our nativity and Jesse Tree during Advent. My youngest children can look at an ornament we made and tell you all about what Christ did or what parable He spoke about that is represented. That’s priceless.
Sorry, I digress.
I’m excited that you posted and are learning about Lent. I often feel like I’m the only protestant out there blogging about Lent.
I hope that your family will be blessed by observing Lent this year and I hope that you will join us as we Seek Him if you blog more about what you are doing with your family.
Blessings,
Trish
Trish recently posted…40 Days of Seeking Him ~ Lent
admin says
Thank you so much for your link-up and for sharing your ideas as well. I do hope to write more about Lent and link-up with you again. Enjoy the season!
LauraOinAK says
Thanks so much for linking this post up to the 40 Days of Seeking Him series this past week. I really like seeing how other Christians embrace the season of Lent for their families. It might be a set part of the liturgical year for those of us who are Catholics, but we don’t claim a monopoly on it by any means.
Your post was chosen to be featured in this week’s post. I hope you’ll consider coming back throughout the season to not share posts you are writing, but to see what others are doing.