Each year I try to give up something during the Lenten season. I find that it gives me a concrete point of concentration to draw closer to God by thinking about Him and talking to Him whenever I would normally have or want the thing I am giving up.
This year, however, I have been uninspired as to what to give up. Usually it is obvious, something I like, and usually something I probably shouldn’t have so much anyway. I’ve done Mt Dew, meat, fear, potato products, desserts, and mental distractions like music and audio books in the car. But this year, nothing sounded exactly right.
Here’s a fun article that explores the top 100 things people on Twitter claimed to be giving up, including the sarcastic answers: http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/february/what-to-give-up-for-lent-2016-twitter-top-100-ideas.html
This morning it came to me. A reverse Lenten sacrifice. Instead of giving something up, I would make the commitment to blog every day, at least once per day in the Lenten season, February 10 to March 24, 2016—with an emphasis on gratitude.
Today, I am grateful for my faith. It has truly been a bedrock for me in my life. It was such a healing factor in my teens. I had a lot of hate in my young heart and I was truly saved from it. Then it was a guiding moral compass during the years I didn’t feel I had anyone to turn to. Beyond that, the actual, personal relationship with the living God leaves me speechless. He has been faithful, patient, instructive, strict, and loving throughout ever season of my life and it has made me the best of who I am. I am truly grateful each day.