Thinking on Thursday

"Thirty nine days to go!" Payton exclaimed when he jumped in the car after school.

We had a discussion with Payton about Lent.  We explained that mommy and daddy would be giving up Diet Coke for Lent but also discussed the bigger picture of what the season of Lent means to us as Christians.  He agreed that he would also give up Dr. Pepper and, being a numbers guy, he has already started his countdown.

I am proud of him for making this decision.  I know that the real purpose of lent is much more than not drinking soda...giving something up, or adding something to your daily routine, growing in your faith....the real purpose of lent goes much further than giving up a drink or a piece of candy but each time that you have that craving for that item, you are reminded of lent and of the Easter season and of the ultimate sacrifice that was made for each of us.  Jesus died for us.  Giving up a soft drink really isn't so difficult after all.  I appreciate that Payton is attempting to give up something that he enjoys.  As a mom, I hope this will mean that he will realize soft drinks aren't that great any way and that even after Easter he will choose water over Dr. Pepper....and, I hope I can be a better parent and keep the things away from him anyway!

After school we decided to go visit Meme.  I reminded Payton that Meme would probably have Dr. Pepper at her house and that it might be a good idea for him to explain his decision. I didn't want him to accidentally drink it and then have a melt down about it.  Owen joined in.  "I'm not giving up Dr. Pepper...sooooo, I can still have some.  Right, Mommy? That's okay, right?" I explained that if he wanted to give something up, he could, but I certainly was not going to force him (at age 3) to give something up for 40 days.  "I will give up water!" he said.  We laughed and explained that he could not give up water.  He sat quietly for a few minutes and then said he would give up Dr. Pepper as well..."for 10 days, not 40, okay?"  I said he could choose 10 days but explained again that lent was the 40 days not counting Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.  He still settled for just 10 days.

They played at Meme's house and then Owen got thirsty.  He knew he could not have Dr. Pepper so he asked for Pepsi!  Crazy kid!  I tried to keep him away from the Pepsi (honestly, I would keep him from all soft drinks if I could....).  His next choice was orange soda.

Once Pawpaw got home, the discussion started again.  Pawpaw laughed that he had given up Dr. Pepper but was still drinking Orange soda.  Owen, who cracks us up with his wit and quick responses, immediately told him that it was okay to drink the orange soda because it did not "have lint-en in it!"

At the end of the day, we're doing our best.  We are raising them in a good Christian home and trying to teach them what we believe and why we believe these things.

I don't think Jesus will care what they do or don't drink as long as they are good Christian boys but, I will be interested to see if they can stick with the no Dr. Pepper rule!  For 10 days or 40 days, it is a step in the right direction.

In other news, I've decided to give up my nightly routine of ice cream before bed as well....this is a tough one but I am going to do it anyway.  No ice cream gives me more anxiety than no Diet Coke.  As of today, I have had no caffeinated beverages...none, at all...and, I passed up my favorite ice cream on sale at the store today.  Then again, it's really not that hard when you consider the sacrifice that was made for each of us.

Something to think about...happy Thursday!  39 days to go!