My 2017 Lent Commitment and some Lent ideas for you ?

It’s time for my 2017 Lent commitment!

My 2017 Lent commitment

Every year for Lent, I choose to focus on something I want to put into practice. I used to follow the traditional method of practicing Lent by “giving something up,” but some years ago, decided to focus on striving to be better. It all started the year Superman was really, really ill, and we were legitimately concerned he was going to die. That year, I committed to waking up every morning at 4:30 to pray specifically for healing over Superman. And shortly after, he was diagnosed with celiac disease and leaky gut, and his healing journey began. ?

Some other things I’ve done in the past:

• Committed to physically playing with my kids for at least 15 minutes a day. [Read here]
• Committed to only using uplifting words with my kids (instead of the constant sarcasm). [Read here]
• Committed to getting up at 4:30 every morning to pray for my relationship with my kids, as well as their futures. [Read here]
• Committed to spending each day of Lent focusing on a different Fruit of the Spirit. [Read here]
• Committed to focusing on the practice of meditative prayer. [Read here]

So what is Lent?

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, that begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1st this yeawr) and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter remembering the day Jesus lay in His tomb). The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is meant to be a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for Easter. It’s a time of self-examination and reflection.

Sundays aren’t counted

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and allows for times of celebration in the midst of reflection during the season.

This year, on the heels of my news & social media break, I have decided to focus my 40 days of Lent on investing in my real-life relationships.

I am going to hand-write a letter to someone I know each and every day of Lent. 

It’s a small gesture. It’s not giving up sugar or chocolate or alcohol (which I don’t really drink anyway) or coffee. It’s just something I feel God has gently laid on my heart. I want to make sure that the people closest to me know how I feel about them. And so every day I will write a note and mail it to someone on my list.

I’m excited to see what this Lent season brings!

What about you? Do you practice Lent? If so, what are you doing to observe the holiday?

Are you looking for some more “out of the box” ideas for Lent? Check out this post from Your Modern Family!