Yup, it’s that time again. Time to string up the lights, and sing Lenten carols. Oh wait. No. It’s a time of giving up the things we love and experiencing guilt. Ho hum.
Growing up Catholic, my siblings and I dreaded this time of year. Lenten sacrifice and no meat on Fridays, although mom often bought us pizza or made fish sticks so I guess it wasn’t all bad. And since we usually gave up chocolate or candy, that led to stuffing our faces with sweets and honey baked ham on Easter Sunday until we put ourselves into a Paschal coma. Alleluia!
Though some of my past Christian traditions have fallen to the wayside, sorry mom, sacrifice during Lent is one of the things I still strive to do/think about/attempt/fail miserably at for 40 days (not counting Sundays) before the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. (Yup, that’s how Ash Wednesday is determined). I like to think of it as a way to better myself…and this year will be no different.
It wasn’t difficult to decide what to give up this year. I’m ashamed to admit but I’ve developed somewhat of a dirty little shopping habit. It became even more clear to me yesterday when I set out to buy a heart shaped cookie cutter and came home with $123.38 worth of merchandise, including 12 assorted cookie cutters and a cookie jar. In my defense I visited 9 stores before finding said cookie cutter and when I finally found a store that had one, it was part of a 12 piece set and I figured, why go through this again, and bought the whole darn thing. $21.65 WITH a cookie jar. I’ll call that a score! So as you can see I definitely have a little bit of a problem tendency and I’m giving up shopping for Lent.
There, I said it. Now it is so. (sign)
The “rules” of the sacrifice? Obviously food and household items are excluded. And there are a few birthdays coming up which I’ve already received gift requests for, one being the All-Star’s. And I surely can’t disappoint my Pisces compadres (they’re so sensitive – shhh).
So that’s about it. It’s in writing so there’s no turning back. We’ll see how long I last. I’m thinking I can do it. We’ll just have to live without new throw pillows and fragrant candles for the next six weeks. Fortunately, I recently purchased both so I think we’ll be ok.
What would be/is your Lenten sacrifice??
