Lenten Lovin'

The Lenten season is probably my favorite season of all time. I learn and grow the most during this time so it’s always a total win for me. Also, I love the fact that this season has not been completely commercialized like Christmas or Easter. Well…the whole no meat on Friday thing kind of has but that is really it.

I get extremely hardcore during Lent. I’m all about the three traditional practices; prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through these three observances we work on our relationships with God (through prayer), ourselves (through fasting), and our neighbors (through almsgiving).

Currently I’m working on what I want to do as far as prayer goes. I’m thinking about reading the bible each night since my knowledge of scripture is limited. I have an idea of what I want to do as an almsgiving but I rather keep that one to myself. That one is always more personal for me and I have no idea why.

As far as giving something up to help myself grow, I have chosen… Drum roll, please.

*intense drum interlude*

Make-up.

Dun, dun, duuuuuuuun.

Yes. You heard me. Make-up. “Why,” you ask?

Great question! Well, I don’t typically wear and excessive amount of make-up but I do use it every day to cover what I want covered and to accent what I want accented. It’s embarrassing to say, but I believe it has become a bit of a crutch for me. I never leave the apartment without it on. Even though I wash my face every morning and night, my waterproof mascara is very hard to get off. Consequently, I’ve rarely seen myself without one speck of make-up on.

That point brings me to what made me make this decision. During this past winter break, there was a about a four day period where I just stopped putting make-up on. Eventually, the mascara came completely off and I was left with being completely natural. I took one look at myself and immediately went for the mascara and blush. It was in that moment, I realized that that was a problem.

Here I am preaching to all my fellow sisters that they should love themselves and understand that they’re beautiful while I’m over here unsatisfied with myself until I make my face up.

Make-up isn’t a bad thing, mind you. It’s fun to make yourself up! As long as you understand that you are beautiful without all of that nonsense on your face, you’re good to go. I’ve just recently realized that I may not actually be there just yet!

So make-up it is. I’m ashamed to say that I have a feeling it’s going to be a really tough vice to give up, however, I’m confident that I will learn and grow in a big way.

Best of luck on your Lenten promises!!

I'll be sure to let you know how mine goes!