Between February 6 and March 23, Christians celebrate Lent. Lent is a time for us for Almsgiving, fasting and prayer. There is much more to Lent than simply refraining from eating meat on Ash Wednsday and Fridays. This is a time when Christians are supposed to do some soul searching and work on being better people. What are all of you doing to celebrate Lent?

This year as part of Lent I am working on trying to be a better human being. I have an idea of the person who I wish to be and I am working at trying to achieve this. I still have a long ways to go. At the beginning of Lent I made a list of three things that I want to change about myself.

These are:

1. Try to be more understanding.
2. Forgive those who have wronged me, or who I believe have wronged me.
3. Try to be more greatful for what I have, instead of focusing on what I don't have.

I've also been helping to raise money for Operation Rice Bowl, which is part of the Catholic Relief Services. It is a service which helps raise money for people who are in need in other countries.

I've also been reading nightly in The Little Black Book. This is a book written by the late Bishop Ken Untener, which features little insights into Catholic beliefs as well as featuring Bishop Untener's writings based on the book of John in the bible.

This year for lent I decided to eat better, healthier foods.

I give up junk food. No soda, candy, cookies, ice cream, basically all the stuff I love.

I also gave up all the fattening breakfast stuff I've been chowing down on the last year. No bagels (and i love bagels) bacon and egg sandwiches, etc.

I am also laying off the take-out food and cooking more meals at home, and laying off the meat on Friday.

As for me, I am working on my patience with my boyfriend. It isn't his fault he is thick-headed. ;)

I of course don't eat meat on Fridays.

I am not having any snacks such as cookies and other treats.

I gave up Lent...seriously! :lol:

I gave up listening to anything by the Mamas and the Papas and was planning on limiting my computer time...
but that doesn't seem to be happening...

I wish I could forgivr the ones who wronged me, but I'll never see them again.:(

I do not do Lent

I do not do Lent
Me either.

I thought Lent was specifically a Catholic thing.

I'm Baptist, Southern Baptist to be exact, so no Lent for me, though I do have some in my pockets, does that count? ;)

I thought Lent was specifically a Catholic thing.
I thought so too. It's definetly not a total Christian thing.

I'm Baptist, Southern Baptist to be exact, so no Lent for me, though I do have some in my pockets, does that count? ;)
:lol: Give up wearing pants?

:lol: Give up wearing pants?

Hmmm... *contemplates* ;)

I am Exempt from Lent

I thought Lent was specifically a Catholic thing.

I think theres multiple forms of lent. Some seem to be different.. I know Catholic Lent goes over 40 day period.. no meat on friday. Giving up something to show a sacrafice of some sort.. Its already in full swing

I'm going to try and give up coffee and junk food :)

Aside from no meat on Fridays, I decided that I'd do whatever people asked (e.g. borrow my stuff, do chores and so on). Of course I kept it hush-hush or my family will totally take advantage.

Strangely enough my sister asked me to buy her a CD and boy was she surprised when I did.

I haven't been so good about it though:( I didn't give my little brother $15, I didn't let my sister borrow my coat, and i didn't help and I complained. :( :(

Boy! I need to work on being less selfish:o

One of the things I wanted to accomplish this Lent was to get a little peace of mind. Ever since my serious bout with depression in 1998 and 1999 my life has had many, many ups and downs. However, I have not been able to be totally happy at any time over the last decade.

When I was sitting in Mass on Easter Sunday this wonderful feeling of calm came over me. For the first time in nearly ten years I felt at peace with myself and the world around me. The feeling has lasted all week. I am feeling better now than I have in years.

I know that depression and anxiety never go away, which is why I have to take medication, but I hope to be able to handle it better now. As Peter Gabriel said in his song "Fear", " I still have my fears, but they don't have me." Life is good right now. :)