It's Lent...so I have to give up something???

That was the question I got at dinner tonight.  Not necessarily was the response.  We discussed the meaning of Ash Wednesday and Lent at home. Guitar lessons and tutoring meant that church was out of the running tonight.  But the conversation we had at home was sufficient, I think.

After dinner we made a list of things that we were going to "forgo" during the month of Lent.  For example, we like to eat out at least once a week.  So instead of eating out once a week, we will eat out once every two weeks.  The money we would've spent going out to eat will go in our Lent Jar.  At the end of Lent, we will count the money and go to the bank and deposit it.  I will then write a check to send to the charity or charities that we decided on at the beginning of Lent. We always send money to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but each year the kids get to pick another charity to split the money with.  Last year it was the LLS and The Make a Wish foundation.

So we talked about which charity to include this year, and the kids wanted to keep the two from last year, but this year we will add the Wounded Warriors.  Splitting between three charities won't result in a big donation, but I think it's the idea that counts.  I hated Lent when I was little because I saw a lot of people give up stuff like alcohol or chocolate but it never really meant much because they could do without it and then start back up again.  I want the kids to see that while Jesus gave up things, he also gave of himself.  Being young, they don't think there's a lot they can do.  But this way, they get a glimpse of what it must have been like.