Lent
This is just a quick post, at about 2:03 am on Feb 18th I have decided to give up something for Lent. What will be challenging for me with this Lent sacrifice is that I am not giving up a physical thin necessarily, but I am going to work to give up spending my time and money on me. I am still prayerfully considering what this will look like, but I have some ideas.
I will not be spending money to buy food for myself only. Now I could get legalistic with this, but that is not the idea. What I mean is that if I am buying groceries for my family, thats fine. If I go out on a date and we are going to a resturant I will buy food for them and for myself. What this also means is no buying sodas for myself when I am at work, no buying snacks, I need to plan ahead and have food and drinks where I am going of be happy eating and drinking water (yes I know technically its not eating water, unless its ice).
This also means that the new snow pants/jacket I wanted to buy is out the window. The LED flashlight, not for me. New videoo games, even when using RewardZone points so as I am not paying for them, no more. I am committing to not by myself anything for the next 40 days. How will I do, I don’t know. I am however, incredibly excited and scared to see what amazing lessons God has for me in this experience.
Tedward's Ramblings 
Emily said,
February 18, 2010 at 10:11 am
I’m proud of you Tedward!! I’m interested to see how the journey goes!
DIANE MORRISSEY said,
February 18, 2010 at 10:38 am
I think your idea is amazing. After all Christ did sacrifice everything on a daily baisis. He gave to others and not Himself and I think what you have decided is a good example of just this. God bless you godchild during this journey as I pray for your success. Love you!
totustuusfan said,
February 18, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Very cool Ted. I know for me, penitential practices are very awesome, and really do help deepen that relationship with Jesus.
May I offer a suggestion that may help you? You may have already been planning on doing this, but unless it’s something necessary (and you’re willing to wait for), maybe take the money you would normally spend on yourself, and use it to help others. (Pay for a family dinner, groceries, donate to a charity, or a friend… maybe a friend that has a new son and could use more diapers). I suggest it because we can fall into a trap that in 40 days, now I can buy that video game or that jacket, and the only sacrifice then, is the waiting and the anxiety that comes with that waiting. Please don’t think I’m trying to say what you’re doing isn’t good enough or anything to that nature, I just wanted to share my thoughts on how you can add to your experience.
Ted said,
February 18, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Joe, I have been thinking about what I might be able to do with the money, and I am not sure yet. The other thing is just realizing how often I go out and look for stuff for myself when I don’t need anything, I am just out. The sad truth is these are things I often buy when I should use the money to pay even more off my credit card
totustuusfan said,
February 18, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Paying off the credit card would be a worthy charity, and wouldn’t be spending the money on yourself in a direct way… or in the way that you’re trying to avoid to help yourself.
As I told my kids the other night when we were talking about it, the time we give up should then go towards God. In prayer, in reading the Bible, in finding new examples of people and how we can live, (I suggested to them to learn the stories of a new Saint a day).
The other thing I tell my kids, if you pick something that you don’t fail at during Lent, then you picked something to easy, so don’t beat yourself up if and when you struggle.
Teð said,
February 18, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Today at the mall was a new exercise in prayer. Everytime I thought to go look at video games, dvd’s, or more clothes that I don’t need I instead turned to God and thanked him for all He has already blessed me with, and then prayed to refocus on the people around me and how I can show the Love
Uncle Dave said,
February 18, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Good for you Ted! I hope you find this a very rewarding experience. You deserve a lot of credit for even coming up with the idea.