I've decided to make Thursdays my "Question of the Week" day because I always have questions and am always interested in people's answers.
This Week's Question: What should my sister, YogaGirl give up for Lent?
For non-Catholics, Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter in which Catholics are supposed to sacrifice by not eating meat on Ash Wednesdays and Fridays (some may even not eat meat for all 40 days) and either give up something they love OR take up something that will improve them (usually by doing charity work, or reading the bible).
Before you ask, I'm giving up nothing and I had chicken yesterday. Yes. You guessed it, I'm a non-practicing Catholic, but can remind my sister when a religious holiday is fast approaching.
This past Sunday, I asked what she was giving up this year for Lent and because she hadn't realized it was this week, she hadn't decided. I was excited that I could add some input to her decision because the year she gave up Starbucks was the year her sacrifice was painful to me. If I wanted to be in pain, I'd participate in the ritual of Lent. I'd sacrifice diet cola, but instead I'd rather let it be known that I shouldn't suffer because of her sacrifice. I don't think that's what the Catholic church had in mind when they decided upon this tradition.
So. What do you think she should give up? Actually, what should she give up that has the least impact on me? Remember this is MY blog....
I also have a question to the people who do participate in Lent....are you able to have what you gave up on Sundays? My mom brought us up to have whatever we gave up on Sundays (usually, it was ice cream because she gave it up) and she'd allow us ice cream on Sundays. Does anyone else do this or do you think it was my mom's way of sneaking in ice cream?
24 comments:
Give up a bad habit for 40 days, and you may have eliminated it from your life!
Secretia
I'm not Catholic and my sister is like you, she's a non-practicing one so she has never given up a thing.
Oh yeesh I have no idea what your sister should give up. Pick a food you hate that she loves & maybe suggest that? hehe.
I'm a Catholic & I'm trying to give up cursing for Lent. I don't think its going to last long tho.
Sundays? hmm...Yeah its supposed to be your cheat day to some. I guess it depends on how religious you are??? Not sure.
Lutherns do the Lent thing too. I was raised Luthern and we didn't get to have what we gave up on Sundays. But since that's God's day of rest, he's probably not paying attention anyway...so your mom was a smart cookie!
Hmmm...maybe she could give up something you don't like anyway? Like lima beans. Or liver. Ewww...
♥Spot
I'm not Catholic but I imagine giving up chocolate would be a sweet torture!
I'm not Catholic, but I'm guessing giving up sweets or Mexican food would be the equivalent to my hell.
I would give up Lent for Lent.
oh, how I remember giving up stuff for Lent so well. and i DO seem to remember the "get out of jail free" Sunday card, too.
however, due to my hatred of failing at things, i have stopped giving stuff up. Last year I wanted to better myself and work out and, well, that didn't work.
I think we should give up something that we wish to eliminate from our life, not at lent but when we know something is not good for us.
How about golf or Yoga? ;)
I have no idea, really....
Hugs!!
GEM
P.S. Congrats on winning Season One for Out of Tune Tuesday! I voted for you!
Don't ask your sister to give up Curling, because she won't do it! I'm not giving anything up, what I have decided to do is be more patient. It's a tough virture, but I am up for the challenge. It's really an area I need to work on.
I like I would give up lent for lent. Ha, ha.
I'm not a catholic, so I'm not sure. But if the idea is to give up something that you really like...then she should give up what she really likes...does she read your blog? She could give up that? But, wait that would affect you...Hm...Sounds like you two are pretty connected, this might take some thoughtful brainstorming.
And, to your comment, yes, that dang doughnut did get me in round 1, but it will work out because now I'm wiser. I'm thinking fruit might be a fun treat maybe mixed in with some healthy nuts.
Maybe you could nominate me for some magazine. Would they mind not knowing my real name? :) Maybe the elusiveness will add to drama. Ha, HA.
I'm a fairly lapsed catholic but I'm using religion as an opportunity to try and kick my habit of drinking so much. But I'm kind of cheating because I'm only forbidding myself alcohol during the week. This means i can have it at the weekend anyway!
(I know that sounds like a copout but I quite often drink during the week and it's an unhealthy habit I want to shake)
I personally have never heard of being able to allow yourself the thing you give up on a Sunday though...
I think your mom was trying to sneak in the ice cream.
Your sister should give up swearing - that is, if she swears. That is one that is enjoyable to watch. It promotes creativity too in coming up with other expressions :0)
Yeah, I don't practice anymore either. And I love your new Idol badge!!! It cracks me up!
she could always take the approach of giving up something she doesn't like anyway... i know lots of people who do that.
The first thing that comes to mind is yoga.
We do the giving something up and we're not Catholic. I live for Sundays when I give up wine. Didn't choose that this year.
The Sunday thing - Lent is 40 days, so that excludes Sunday.
Instead of giving something up, we try to focus more on anything we need to improve upon.
Secretia – You would think that would happen, but it never does. I think it is because you know you’re only giving it up for a short period of time.
Blueviolet – ummm…okay. But trying to figure out what sis should give up.
Melanie’s Randomness – Cursing is a tough one because you often don’t realize you’re doing it when you are – try giving up one curse word. I’d pick lima beans, but I don’t think she eats them.
Spot – I think my mom just wanted her ice cream.
Modern Mom – It would be for her, but not me!
Herding Cats – Mexican food….yummy…okay, I’m now hungry.
Monkey Man – LOL and I do that.
Kk – I’m glad to hear someone else had that get out of jail free card. LOL. I hate to fail and love how you solved the problem.
TechnoBabe – That would be awesome, but I’m not that good.
Tracey – I like that and told her your suggestions last night.
Maria.palermo – Patience is a tough virtue and I started practicing control of it with drivers at stop lights and ones that don’t use their directional signal.
Sunshine Mama – Hey, I don’t like that idea. I bet she’d love a bismark if she tried one. I’ll work on the magazine.
P – Okay, you don’t eat meat, so you’re not that lapsed a Catholic. It’s not a copout if you consider it a sacrifice. Lent is really personal.
The Bumbles – I agree. I don’t people realize how often they incorporate swearing into their daily life if THEY DON’T HAVE CHILDREN. I think you do know if you have kids.
Jules – The badge is awesome!
Jaime – But is that really a sacrifice?
Unknown Mami – I agree and that would be almost impossible for her.
Midlife Jobhunter – Really? Wow, you’re good.
Oh, the people that recommend that I (YogaGirl) give up yoga for Lent????? I believe they are smoking crack! That's right. That will never happen.
So far day 3 of no chocolate - I have survived. But I'm sure the next chocolate cupcake I run across or piece of cake will make me very sad.
And I totally think the Sunday you can break Lent thing is bogus....but everyone I know who was raised Catholic says their parents all said that, so it might be a generational thing.
Yeah, I recently read that it's a weekday sacrifice. Furthermore, a day of fasting now means, between the ages of 18 and 60, when you have no health problems or pregnancy, you are to limit yourself to two minimeals and one large meal. WTF? We're Catholic. If we're not going to be hard core, I'm going Anglican.
Geez, I don't know about this. I've always heard about giving up something you love for Lent so you can feel the sacrifice...I'm a Methodist and they recommend it too. (That's us..."recommending" spiritual practices.) I've never done it. Reminds me of the serious Jews I know...not eating pork or shellfish, no meat and cheese together...all to show they honor God. I just wasn't raised that you need to do that to show your devotion. Hmmmm....you may have just spurred another post on my blog! Good job!
So what has your sis officially given up for Lent?
I blew it with the chocolate. My mom said on Sundays you are allowed to have whatever you've given up. Too bad I blew it on Thursday and Saturday too.
Now I'm thinking of doing good deeds for the rest of Lent and improving on something about myself. Seems these out-of-work days I am too down and moody to give up anything I like too much!
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