Lent

[ScouceBird]

What have you gave up for Lent?

Chocolate, cakes, biscuits and bread, it'll be sort of DEAMOF (Don't eat anything made of flour).
Hoping this will also help my back; was in the office yesterday and chair really uncomfortable. More people in I suppose, so less choice of chairs.
To return to Lent tho, went ot the Ash Wednesday service and the fasting sayings from St Francis were quoted.
I hadn't heard them before and one in particular really resonated as it's now over a year since my lovely mum died.
Here they are
Fast from hurting words and say kind words
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worried and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful
Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be. Compassionate.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled
Fast from words; be silent and listen

I believe in following Jesus’ commands.

He was very specific about how His followers are to conduct themselves during times of fasting.

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Matthew 6 v 16-18

Nothing. As there's nothing I can reevaluate give up!

I was working yesterday, (first time I've ever worked Ash Wednesday) so one of the hospital chaplains came to my ward to impose ashes for myself and a colleague. I was amazed at how many people had never heard of it. Even if people are not church goers, I thought most people know what it was Due it Shrove Tuesday the day before. Apparently not!

Coffee, chocolate and swearing lol
also doing no meat Fridays and occasional days of fasting until dinner.

Not giving up anything completely, but cutting down on tv and sweet things, and trying to just live a bit more simply ( and peacefully).

Chocolate, crisps, sweets, biscuits and fizzy drinks. Basically I need to lose weight but have no willpower, but I can normally stick to it if it's for Lent

Alcohol and increased my intermittent fasting from 18/6 to 20/4.

Rather than give anything up ( don't drink anyway and have reduced treats by about 99% for health reasons) I have taken up thinking more. I am being more prayerful, reading more books about Christianity ( in a wide sense...currently on one about introverts in a noisy church) and trying hard not to moan so much!

My phone and laptop between 22:00 and 08:00.

Sweets and alcohol. I'd have given up biscuits but there are a couple of times when it would be remarkable if I didn't eat one, so I go with the flow then (honest). One of those is at the once-a-week Bible discussion which is a thing I've taken up for Lent - just reading, pondering, responding to and praying with the readings set for each Sunday. I had intended to go to a weekday mass once a week, but have only managed three. ooops

I really missed the booze today for some reason - some days I don't even think about it.

My first lent so I’ve been gentle on myself

coke and mini eggs

Alcohol. Though raised a Catholic I’m not practising but my very devout mother gave up alcohol for Lent every year (she LOVED her wine), and since she passed away 12 years ago I’ve done it in her honour, so to speak. I drink too much and there’s no downside to abstaining for a few weeks. Mind you I don’t feel any better for not drinking and I haven’t even managed to lose any weight!