Act 20:35, “...the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Lent is starting today, the time where each member gives up something. I wanted to do something different. I wanted our family to have an Upside Down Lent. Do something more. Do something positive. Just don't give up anything, but to be someone better. I pondered and threw around many ideas. I prayed for direction. I doodled ideas on a piece of paper. I really thought, I had a great idea. Forty days of a variety of blessings and challenges that would not only make myself a better person, but my family. The ideas had to be simple enough that a six-year old could complete. The challenge is doodled out at the bottom.
I sat there envisioning my entire family being on board with the idea. I was excited. I was definitely thinking that everyone would just love, I mean LOVE this idea. Boy was I wrong. Definitely wrong. There were tears, there was pouting, there was even a stomping that occurred! How could I even dare ask them to only eat rice or beans for a supper meal! I couldn’t decide if I was crying, because I was laughing so hard at the kids' reaction or had actual tears because the kids didn’t care for the idea at ALL. (Sidenote: Brandon came around the corner in full support of the idea, he told the kids this would be something that challenges them.)
All of this to live an Upside Down Lent -- not just giving something up, but becoming a better person. My hope, is that as a family, we think positively, give graciously, and serve intensely. My hope is that our children may gain an insight to how extremely blessed we are. My hope is that we all a better person than we were yesterday. My hope is that each of us is challenged this Lent to be more like Jesus.
Is this going to be tough...oh my YES! You remember the independent-strong willed daughter of ours? Well, she has repeatedly said she wasn’t doing the challenge. After day one, though, she was the first to say she complimented someone. As for me, it was an encouraging compliment that lead to a great conversation about faith and forgiveness. A day of sharing blessings.
Now on to a day of giving something up. We will see what day two brings...no electronics for the evening. The kids are already saying I will give in first.
The Upside Down Lent. Don’t Give Something Up. Be Someone Better. Be More Like Jesus
Lent is starting today, the time where each member gives up something. I wanted to do something different. I wanted our family to have an Upside Down Lent. Do something more. Do something positive. Just don't give up anything, but to be someone better. I pondered and threw around many ideas. I prayed for direction. I doodled ideas on a piece of paper. I really thought, I had a great idea. Forty days of a variety of blessings and challenges that would not only make myself a better person, but my family. The ideas had to be simple enough that a six-year old could complete. The challenge is doodled out at the bottom.
I sat there envisioning my entire family being on board with the idea. I was excited. I was definitely thinking that everyone would just love, I mean LOVE this idea. Boy was I wrong. Definitely wrong. There were tears, there was pouting, there was even a stomping that occurred! How could I even dare ask them to only eat rice or beans for a supper meal! I couldn’t decide if I was crying, because I was laughing so hard at the kids' reaction or had actual tears because the kids didn’t care for the idea at ALL. (Sidenote: Brandon came around the corner in full support of the idea, he told the kids this would be something that challenges them.)
All of this to live an Upside Down Lent -- not just giving something up, but becoming a better person. My hope, is that as a family, we think positively, give graciously, and serve intensely. My hope is that our children may gain an insight to how extremely blessed we are. My hope is that we all a better person than we were yesterday. My hope is that each of us is challenged this Lent to be more like Jesus.
Is this going to be tough...oh my YES! You remember the independent-strong willed daughter of ours? Well, she has repeatedly said she wasn’t doing the challenge. After day one, though, she was the first to say she complimented someone. As for me, it was an encouraging compliment that lead to a great conversation about faith and forgiveness. A day of sharing blessings.
Now on to a day of giving something up. We will see what day two brings...no electronics for the evening. The kids are already saying I will give in first.
The Upside Down Lent. Don’t Give Something Up. Be Someone Better. Be More Like Jesus