Growing up in Brasil I never really celebrated Lent as I’ve seen it celebrated in the US. I looked around in Grad School one day and I noticed people were giving up alcohol for Lent and they were asking me what I was giving up. My answer was, “what’s that?”
I find the different Lent traditions to be really interesting. According to UMC.org “Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.”
My current church does not offer a Ash Wednesday service and neither did my church as I grew up in Brazil. I tell you what, it’s challenging to start a whole new tradition as an adult just because everyone around me is doing it. So this year, for the 17th time, I won’t give up anything for Lent. What I will do, is to continue to remember my dear Lord and Savior Jesus.
I do believe that Lent only helps us make Easter the Superbowl of all Christian holidays so I support my fellow Christian friends for upholding their different Easter season traditions.
I will remember Jesus when I make the point to teach my children about what Easter really means. In my household that means reading the Bible and telling them the story of the resurrected Christ and what His victory on the cross does for us today.
I will honor and respect my friends who give up stuff for Lent. I’ll try not to parade candy in front of them if I know that’s what they’re giving up. I am all for respecting and supporting my friends’ walk with God.
I will look for opportunities to share the story of Jesus with people who do not know Him. That will be the most rewarding thing that could ever happen this season. After all, Jesus told us Himself:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
I will remember you Jesus during Lent and every season of the year.
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