Today is the Wednesday of Ashes. Today marks the beginning of Lent. Lent goes for forty days, from now until Easter morning. 

Lent is a time when we consider the great sacrifice that God made in his love for us by giving His Son Jesus to die for our sins. (Veil the cross)

And because God made such a sacrifice, some people make a sacrifice of their own during Lent. 

A sacrifice is to give up something you really like or love.  Mrs. Potato Head always gives up her favorite computer games during Lent.  This morning after she checked her e-mail she clicked on Spider Solitaire, but then she remembered that today is the Wednesday of Ashes.  So she canceled out of the game.  What a tiny sacrifice, to give up a computer game.  But it is a reminder to her that making a sacrifice is an important way to honor our God.

Can children honor God by making a sacrifice?  You bet!

Running Chairs decided to give up candy.  “Like, you know, I will not let a piece of candy pass these lips, like for all of Lent.  Now, chewing gum is not candy, so I can chew gum, but like no chocolate candy and like no Three Musketeers and no Milky Ways and no Snickers Bars and no Kit Kats and no Hershey Kisses.  Like this will be, like hard because you see, I always like to eat a little candy when I get done with, like my homework and my chores, like after school, because you see my Mom says it is okay to reward myself with some sweet if I have like finished my work and like no Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups either.”  And Running Chairs gave a little pout!

Sam and his father, Mr. Konde decided to give up desserts for Lent.  They will do that together.

Elizabeth has decided to put a part of her allowance in the Lenten Offering Box that her mother has on the kitchen windowsill.  Every day she plans to place a few coins in the box.  Today, being the Wednesday of Ashes, she put two nickels in the box.

Barabas.  On this Wednesday of Ashes Barabas had decided to give up drinking soda.  No more soft drinks for the next 40 days.

Running Chairs turned to Elizabeth and said “Like you know, what did YOU give up for Lent!?  I gave up . . .”

No, Running Chairs.  You can’t brag or be the center of attention about what you have sacrificed.  What you have given up is just between you and God.  God knows what you are doing.  No need to brag and be a show-off. 

You know, candy and money and desserts and computer games and soda are all treasures here on earth.   Even being the center of attention is just a temporary treasure here on earth.  During Lent we want to honor God by reminding ourselves about the greater, . . the greatest treasure of all, the treasure in heaven of God’s love in Jesus our Savior.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

THE END

Printer friendly copy of this story