Lent for Families (#43)

The season of Lent can be a wonderful time for families to grow closer to each other and to Christ. Here are a few simple ideas that we use in our own family.

Place pictures of the Stations of the Cross around your house. Show your children how to walk their wayu around and identify each station, followed by a prayer or a song verse.

When your child makes a sacrifice or does a good deed, have them place a dry bean in a jar. This can be a great way to encourage them to help out a younger sibling or volunteer to do a chore. At Easter, you can replace the dry beans with colorful jelly beans to symbolize how Jesus takes our small sacrifices and makes them into something much better.

Finally, work on a spirit of generosity and simplicity. Eat simpler and donate the money saved to the needy. It's also a great time to donate toys, books and clothing to those in need.