We are on the letter F for ABC Wednesday and it’s timely for Fat Tuesday and the Forty Days of Lent. Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team.
Today is Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday (feast of pancakes) which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I did not observe Lent growing up but I had lots of Catholic friends in my schools and was always curious as to why they showed up with a black ash mark on their foreheads on this particular Wednesday. When I found out they were giving up gum or candy for Lent I was more curious as to why. So here’s a little overview of what all this means. This article from the Liverpool Echo really covers things well.
During my school days I made a decision to follow Christ. This was the beginning of my faith journey. This decision and my changing of allegiance has not cost me much compared to the 21 Christians who were savagely beheaded by ISIS just because they were Christians. My cost has been mild compared. I’ve been mocked at times, disregarded, and made fun of. Among some people who view themselves as intellectuals I’ve been considered brainless.
I’ve also received many benefits that far outweigh the cost. As my faith grows and I deny some of my own selfish desires I’ve received the fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I fail a lot but I’m forgiven and I carry on in faith that God will continue to lead me and help me fulfill all I’ve been called to do. Each day I have to decide to follow Christ or follow me me me. Some days, many days, it’s all about me! Every day He is faithful.
When Dear and I were in Great Britain last year we visited Hereford Cathedral and I took photos of this Shrine that illustrates Luke 9:23.
And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
So…are you eating pancakes today? Do you observe Lent? What are your plans for Fat Tuesday?
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Ha! I’m doing L is for Lent! And I’m having pancakes tonight!
ROG, ABCW
very colorfull entries Ellen, nice!
We have definitely eaten pancakes today, with a touch of Maple syrup!
We are having pancake supper at church tonite.
FRANKLY MY DEAR
We celebrated Fat Tuesday at Bible Study today and discussed those Coptic Christians. I’m working hard at not wishing in my heart revenge on ISIS.
Yes, I definitely follow Lent! I don’t “give up” anything but instead I try to do more good deeds and pray more. ISIS really worries me–it is so horrible what they did to those Coptic Christians and their threats against al Christians!
I’m looking forward to my pancake dinner in about 30 minutes, but I will be saying a prayer for those 21 Christians that won’t be able to do so. Peace.
Our faith tradition doesn’t include Lent, but I have often thought that following the church calendar isn’t such a bad idea. The beheading of those 21 Christians has filled my thoughts and prayers this week. We can’t even imagine.
We don’t observe LENT but I love pancakes and if I’d known about having them today, I surely would have. 🙂
Yes we do observe Lent with fasting (giving up something), prayer, and alms giving ( increasing donations to worthy causes.) We also meet to pray the stations of the cross every Friday evening. It keeps our hearts and minds focussed on Jesus.
Oh yes to the pancakes – and yes to Lent as well, – giving up all bad and discontented thoughts, and thinking positively for Lent….
We do not observe Lent nor “give up” anything for the time period.
You are only the second blogger I have read to mention the Coptic Chrisitians. The Beautiful Matters also. Sigh.
A good read again Ellen.
I love the sculpture of the cross and it’s bearers.
In the Anglican church Shrove Tuesday is recognised as a most significant part of the Christian Calendar, preceding Ash Wednesday, which, of course, is the start of Lent.
The church I attended was a High Anglican, and we had the sign of the cross, in ash, placed upon our foreheads, by the attending priest. I was a chorister at that time so I was totally immersed in all the Christian rituals, performed in the High Church of England.
My mother totally disapproved of what she called, ‘All the bowing and scraping’ taking place at that time. ‘Too like the Roman Catholics’ she would say.
This was at a time when there were great divisions between the Roman Catholics and Protestants in Liverpool, in the 50’s and 60’s. If you weren’t a Roman Catholic, then you were called a Protestant. I objected to being called that and insisted that I was an Anglican.
Thankfully, all this has gone away now, most people get along and respect each other’s creed.
If only that was true in other religions!
I don’t give anything up for Lent but I double my ritual of praying at bedtime, particularly for my family, World Peace, and for forgiveness of the evil doers, I pray that they realise that their murderous acts will not give them a place in heaven but eternal damnation and a seat next to the Devil in Hell !!
I’m curious to know how you came across the article in The Liverpool Echo about Shrove Tuesday ? As you may know I’m a Liverpool girl through and through and naturally, delighted to read this,
Thank you again for a most evocative piece of writing……
.It certainly got me going !!
Best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team.
Very good article, thank you so much for sharing. I am also a Liverpool girl now living in Canada. We had our pancakes last night with lemon and sugar , the best way in my opinion. For Lent I am giving up Cadbury chocolate, which is absolutely nothing compared to the 21 that gave up their lives! Thank you Lord for atoning sacrifice for me.
I give up chocolate every year for Lent. It is harder than one might think for a gal like me.
Great post and observation of our religious holidays.
Lent kind of sneaked up on me this year. It’s Ash Wednesday already! In between teaching classes, I will contemplate my response and intention. Thanks for the reminder!
You stopped by my Coventry, England, blog and here I am looking at yours. It has been inspirational. Wonderfully put together.
Pancakes in England is a must…mine could have been better. I enjoyed very much reading your entry today. Lovely seeing your photos from Hereford Cathedral.
I wished we had this tradition of eating pancakes on the Tuesday before Lent, which starts coming Sunday. I am a Protestant so we observe Lent in a different way than our Catholic brothers and sisters.
Have a blessed time before Easter.
Wil, ABCW Team
Very interesting article.
Yes we had pancakes on Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday. We had a pancake supper at church as well, an enjoyable gathering.
Diana
I did have a pancake for lunch but don’t really practice lent in any other way. I need to start doing some things (i.e. walking) rather than give something up I think! So saddening about the horrific murders of Christians – how does one even begin to understand this violence?
Yes, I had pancakes. Of course I took a photo and put it with my Lent post. I didn’t grow up observing Lent, but it is something I have been doing (more or less) these past 8 years. And each time I do, I am more prepared for Easter and the celebration of God’s Son.
Beautiful post — though I do not observe Lent, but I do appreciate the spirit behind it.