Happy Ash Wednesday!
What's so great about the day?
Ash Wednesday kicks off Lent, when many Christians will begin a forty day period of self-denial. Those forty days symbolize the forty days Jesus spent fasting. For most Christians, Lent ends the Thursday before Easter. Basically, Lent is to get you really pumped for Easter. Christian chest bump!
How awesome is it that you get to choose what to give up?
I always try giving up something I really love. Perhaps going to church, tithing, or wearing socks.
Some people give up certain types of food or caffeine.
Like God would ever call someone to give up coffee? Maybe cream, but not coffee. Anytime a Christian is fasting from caffeine, it's a given that they screwed up big! Don't be afraid to keep them accountable and ask why.
You always know the Christians who are giving up foods or caffeine a couple of days before Ash Wednesday.
On "Chubby Monday", you see that co-worker sipping Coca-Cola out of a five-gallon gas tank.
On "Fat Tuesday" your husband is ransacking the kitchen at 11:54 pm looking for one more piece of chocolate.
If you participate in Lent, be careful what you choose. Remember tomorrow is Valentine's Day and you can't exactly call a thirty second timeout. If you said you would give up chocolate, then you have to give it up. Or you basically do not love Jesus.
Many Christians observe Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season. It's a great spiritual practice, if you are centering your focus on Christ.
However, if you aren't that's okay too. Jesus never put an ashy cross on anyone's forehead and told them to give up their German chocolate mocha for 40 days.
So for many Ash Wednesday is "just another Wednesday".
Question:
Do you observe Lent? If so, what are you denying yourself from?
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