So, Lent is just a few days away. I think way too often people give something up for Lent but it doesn't mean anything. I've tried it a few times myself - not necessarily as a show of sacrifice or to grow a closer relationship to Christ, but because it's just what you did. Often I'd give up candy or soda only to forget my commitment and consume whatever it was within the first few days of Lent. This year, I'm taking a different route.
Personally, I'm working my way through the book by Nina Roesner, The Respect Dare - 40 Days to a Deeper Connection with God and Your Husband. I believe this will bring me a closer relationship to Christ more effectively than simply giving something up. It requires more doing than not doing. A journey that requires my involvement and thought. And who can argue with an improved husband/wife relationship!
On a family level, I'm still undecided. I like the idea of a 'Kindness Container' that a friend at church is doing with her family. Write nice, encouraging things about each other and put them in a jar. If there is fighting or a negative situation, we have to turn it around to something positive and put that in the jar. Then at the end of Lent (wouldn't it be cool to do this on Easter Sunday) - read all the encouraging things we've written about each other. My only concern with this is resistance from the boys. Will it become more of a fight than a lesson in encouragement and love? Is that fight worth it? What do we do if the boys refuse to play their part? The other option as a family is to put all the prayer requests from church into a basket and choose one each day and pray for that person as a family at dinner. I think this would be a great way to turn our hearts to others.
I would really love to see my family grow in Christ during this season.
