How To Talk To Your Kids About Ash Wednesday

Family - Minno

As I was trying to get anybody up and ready for schoolhouse this forenoon, my oldest son asked me, "Accept I ever gotten ashes on my forehead on Ash Wed? Have we always historic Lent?"

Since he was about 4 or 5 we have attended churches that were less liturgical in nature. But earlier that fourth dimension, we worshiped equally a family in the Cosmic Church. Both my husband and I grew upwards in Catholic households, and I attended Catholic school my whole life. We were accustomed to the liturgies and community of a traditional church, but when we left, many of those traditions were no longer skilful where we were attending. Lent is a season that my kids have seldom practiced in its fullness. So this morning I thought I'd have a few minutes to talk to my son almost Lent and briefly requite him some answers to his questions. Perhaps your kids have questions too.

Y'all don't accept to exist Catholic to celebrate Lent. Liturgical churches such equally Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian also observe the season of Lent. In many of these denominations, ashes are too used as a symbol of the offset of this flavour.

The ashes are used to remind the states of two things: Our sinfulness before God and our mortality.

If you recall, in the Old Attestation, and even in the time of Jesus, ashes were used as an outward sign of penance and repentance.

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his regal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat on ashes. Jonah three:6

Ashes also represent our physical mortality.

By the sweat of your forehead you will swallow food until you render to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return. Genesis 3:19

Ash Wednesday marks the offset of the flavour of Lent. Information technology is a time when many Christians prepare themselves for Easter by observing a flow of fasting, repentance, sacrifice, and self-discipline. For many, this means either giving up something or taking on something . . . both with the intent of bringing ourselves closer to God.

While our family doesn't necessarily practise the Lenten abstinence of meat every Fri, we fast and abjure on Good Friday. Fasting can just hateful having ane main repast during the twenty-four hours and two smaller meals which if combined are not equal to or greater than the main meal. And while abnegation from meat isn't a conservancy issue, it is a personal sacrifice. Merely something small to surrender as we, along with many others in our family unit, the Church, practice the same and hopefully come to a realization that pleasing our flesh is not as important as growing in our relationship with God.

It may be the sacrificial nature that many in non-traditional churches feel is unnecessary, since it is through Jesus' perfect cede that we are all forgiven already. I can understand that, but the sacrificial element of Lent is non meant to take anything abroad from Jesus' ultimate saving grace on the Cross and His Resurrection. On the contrary! Nosotros are striving to grow closer to our Lord past self-examination, sacrifice, and repentance.

I think for many the sacrificial nature of "giving something up" or "taking something on" is profoundly personal mostly because we humans tend to use "things" as crutches, instead of fully leaning on God and seeking Him. Whether that crutch is smoking, nutrient, alcohol, drugs, or technology, we must examine ourselves as to what is it in our lives that might be taking our focus off the Lord. Every bit an example, and yes, it's 1 I may have used in speaking to my son, if our iPhone is something that we tin can't seem to be without 24/7, it might be a skilful thought to examine how addiction to technology is preventing us from a more fulfilling walk with Christ. Are we replacing the time we should exist spending with God with exterior diversions?

Therefore, I urge you lot, brothers and sisters, in view of God'south mercy, to offer your bodies equally a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not arrange to the pattern of this world, merely be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you volition be able to exam and approve what God'due south volition is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

My final give-and-take to my son was that whether or non a person receives ashes on their brow, they tin can take the adjacent 40 days to examine their hearts and make some necessary changes to the way they perceive their daily walk with God. Easter is a big bargain. Its representation is the foundation of Christ's Church. It's a skillful thing to gear up ourselves for this almost of import celebration. It's a good thing to be introspective for a period of time and reflect on what God is calling each of the states to practise in our personal journey every bit Christians.

In examining your own daily routines, is in that location something yous can take on or take abroad that will assistance you focus on Christ more fully? If so, I encourage y'all to pray about this area of your spiritual life. Pray with your family unit, perhaps using the next twoscore days as a time when you lot all are renewing your ain Baptismal promises, and being reborn through Jesus!