When it came to the topic of Mardi Gras, I was worried about what to write. It’s never been a part of my life or anything. I took French in high school and a little bit in college, so I knew what it literally meant.
And, throughout my life, I’ve tried the giving up stuff for Lent, despite not being Catholic.
So, what to write about it? I figured I’d try talking about something I gave up once during my try at Lent.
Soda.
And yes. I drank a TON the night before on Mardi Gras!
Holy moly, giving that up was difficult.
I got asked why I put myself through that (for those of you who don’t know me, I love soda. I’m like, “hook me up to an IV” when it comes to Diet Pepsi.) So, I had to think it through as to why I gave it up. Sure, lent prompted it. But while doing it, I often questioned myself as to why.
You know what? It taught me something.
I figured the idea of giving something up has more to do with my heart than just doing it for a ritual religious reason. Not to talk religion a ton here, but really, it’s not about legalities, it’s about faith.
But that’s a whole ‘nother blog post.
For me, giving up something I really loved made me think about what I hold so important or let control my life. Seriously. I thought I would die if I didn’t have Diet Pepsi (or some form of caffeine) in my system before 9am every single day.
Then when I gave it up. Yeah, totally had the holy-Hades-my-head’s-gonna-explode headaches.
But they went away.
I held fast. Made it. And because of it…I grew a little.
Stronger in my faith? Yep.
Stronger as an individual? Yep.
Stronger in my will to not let small things have so much control over me? Yep.
Now, I’m not saying I never got hooked on the stuff again. I have this love/hate relationship with Diet Pepsi. But I’m working on it. Cuz that’s what we are, Works in Progress.
Have you ever given something up before?
Happy Weekending, my friends.
Your Friday Fox,
Lynn Rush
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
I never gave anything up for Lent, even when I was a practicing Catholic. I don’t deal well with guilt, which is why I also don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I tend to be of the school that if I want to do something to the positive, it doesn’t matter what time of year I do it as long as I stick to it. I gave up soft drinks back in November and didn’t touch one until January. Then I might have one every two weeks, or whatever. I know I don’t need it anymore, and that’s an awesome feeling, LOL
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Guilt is such a bugger. Doesn’t have a place in faith, really. Nice job on the soft drinks. Man, I didn’t realize how much I had been drinking until I stopped. 🙂
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Excellent column, Lynn. Quite profound.
I have a dear friend, also not Catholic, who gives up one (or some) of her favorite edibles during Lent. She gets a lot of questions — including some teasing — but mostly people just roll their eyes at her.
Your answers make a lot of sense: faith, self, strength.
I once gave up Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream — for many months. But it was not related to Lent. It was simply that I’d accumulated some dozen pounds over a good weight for my frame and it was all in my mid-section. So: no ice cream — a nightly ritual — and I began walking 1.3 miles EVERY evening (rain or shine).
Dropped 10 lbs. in about 3 weeks (as I recall) or less.
Did I ever return to ice cream? Sure. Eventually. But, like you with Diet Pepsi, I proved to myself that it was possible.
So, years, later, when I had to give up ice cream for digestive reasons, it was a settled issue: I knew I could do it. And I did. Haven’t had any since last summer.
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Thanks, Jeff. Nice job!
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Wonderful post, Lynn and I’m proud of you for doing that giving up soda thing. I have another friend that does that every year and it is tough, tough. I admire you for it.
And that you grew in your faith when you did it is awesome.
I’ve done the diet thing- giving up high carbs and stuff like that- but I did eventually go back to it- yeast products are my downfall so it was very hard to do.
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Thanks. Carbs. Oh, they’re evil!!!!!!!
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