Why Lent?
I remember observing Lent as a child. Growing up, Lent was not optional for us. In our home, we gave up meat for 40 days. Reflecting on those times, I realize we grew up in an era of simpler expectations where we did what our parents told us and didn’t fuss over food choices. I remember disliking green peppers and cabbage but eating them anyway. Today, it seems my kids won’t even set aside the foods they dislike from their meals—they’d rather skip the meal entirely or make a fuss.
This reflection brings me back to Lent. While giving up meat may not be suitable for our family now, I can still teach my kids to sacrifice something they love during this season as a reminder to let go of our sinful ways because we know that we are all born sinners and need to repent to receive forgiveness. I am reminded of a verse that comes from one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament as quoted in Joel 2:12-13.
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
The prophet Joel addresses God’s people right after a devastating locust plague. Joel believes that the plague came upon the people because of their sinful ways. He calls on them to openly mourn of their sins and seek God’s forgiveness. The Bible is filled with many such stories that remind us that we need to seek forgiveness and purposefully renew our hearts and minds that we may live according to God’s ways. This context of renewal and repentance sets the stage for understanding how we can make observe Lent meaningfully. But before we explore practical ways to engage kids during Lent, let’s revisit the basics.
What is Lent and Why Do We Give Up Something?
Lent is a 40-day season leading up to Easter Sunday, mirroring Jesus’ time of fasting in the wilderness. It’s a time for believers to reflect on their lives and deepen their walk with Christ.
The Origins of Lent
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday, spanning around six weeks (excluding Sundays). The tradition dates back to as early as 325 AD as a form of preparation for baptism. Many observe Ash Wednesday by placing a cross sign with ash on the forehead as a reminder of our need for repentance. If you remember the story of Jonah, he was sent to Nineveh to urge its people to abandon their wicked ways so that they might receive God’s forgiveness. In response, the entire city, from the king down to the common citizens, wore sackcloth and sat in ashes as a way to demonstrate their repentance. Ash has always has a symbolic relevance in the Bible and hence used during Ash Wednesday.
Why We Sacrifice During Lent
In the Christian tradition, giving up something during Lent is a spiritual practice we follow to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and and fasting in the desert for 40 days. This practice helps believers detach from worldly comforts and draw closer to God. By sacrificing something enjoyable, we are reminded of Jesus’ greater sacrifice and encouraged to reflect on our lives and prioritize spiritual growth, while preparing our hearts and minds to celebrate Easter.
Making Lent Accessible to Kids
Let us raise a generation of children who will grow up to remember God’s faithfulness, and teach them to diligently build a relationship with Christ so they may fully experience it in their lives. Keeping tradition and teaching them to honor and celebrate Lent is key to building discipline in our spiritual lives. To make Lent accessible for kids, I am sharing a few ways that we are observing Lent, and hope that you will find inspiration in involving your children too.
#1 Educational Resources
Spend time as a family learning about Jesus’ life and ministry on Earth. This year, we are using these resources:
- The Easter Storybook: 40 Bible Stories Showing Who Jesus Is. – I’ll be using this with my boys (6 and 7 year olds)
- Amon’s Adventure: A Family Story for Easter– I’ll be using this with my oldest (11 year old)
- 7 day Easter devotional We will be using this Devotional for the final week leading up to Easter.
#2 Encouraging Sacrifice
While fasting might not be ideal for all families, teaching kids to give up something can still be impactful:
- For older children, consider having them skip a meal each week and use that time for acts of kindness or Bible study.
- For younger children, find something small yet significant they can give up, like screen time or a favorite snack like candy or cookies.
#3 Make it Fun
- Acts of Kindness: Encourage living out faith through acts of kindness such as making a card or helping with a chore. Use the free printable Acts of Kindness Bingo Card. I’ve created to make this engaging.
- Prayer: Use a prayer chain to pray as a family for someone different each day. Write a new prayer item on sheets of paper each day and watch the prayer chain grow. Here’s a link to how you can do it from another mom blogger.
Conclusion
How will you observe lent with your kids this year?
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