As a kid, growing up in a devout Christian household, we used to give something up for Lent. It was nearly always sweets of course, and I was terrible at it. I wouldn’t last more than a few days. My Mam strictly observed it, and would give up things that were genuinely hard for her, and she would fast and pray. She’d say ‘I’m giving up tea and chocolate biscuits for Lent, what are you giving up?’ 

I was always bemused by this, even as a kid. I used to wonder what God thought of it all. Did he actually look forward to Lent? Did he actually get all the things people were sacrificing, in some vast, heavenly buffet? If so, I’m sure he was thrilled. I’ll bet he was much more thankful for a nice hot cup of tea and a chocolate Hobnob, than a slaughtered lamb, or a human blood sacrifice. I mean, what’s he going to do with a few litres of human blood anyway? I’m sure he’s vegetarian. 

There’s something valuable about sacrifice though. It leads to personal development and inner growth. It tempers gluttony and increases will power. It develops mental and emotional strength. Giving up things you love is incredibly difficult, but it does make you a stronger person. I gave up smoking twenty-eight years ago, not because I hated it, but because I was worried about the health effects. I gave up alcohol ten years ago. Not because I hated it, but because it was making me ill and I felt addicted to it. I’ve been on diets and given up the foods I love to lose weight. As a parent, I sacrificed things all the time for the welfare of my kids. These sacrifices, (and others), helped me become more confident, self-assured, and better able to control myself, and my emotions. 

I think all of us need to learn the benefits of sacrifice. This act, that was instilled in me as a child, has been lost in modern times. Most of us don’t have to go without. We have whatever we need, whenever we want it, and that’s not good. It’s not good because it leads us to become greedy, demanding, self-centred, and lack self-control. We all need to learn to sacrifice things we love. 

My wife wants us to do a 5:2 fasting diet and I’ve been putting it off because I know it will be difficult. I think however, that this perceived difficulty is the very reason I should do it. A little less of what you fancy does you good.