By Natasha Nikkel
Christmas brought cheery lights and excitement. New Year’s came with confetti and toasts. And now as the calendar turns to February and Lent draws near, we can look forward to… sacrifice. Oof. If we’re honest, we might wonder if we should just pass on this one. Numb ourselves through the remaining days of winter’s darkness, and wait for spring to arrive with something fun again! After all, it seems a lot more enjoyable to stick with holiday traditions that bring warm fuzzies.
But, what if our capacity for grief in the darkness is tied to our capacity for joy in the light? The six weeks leading up to Easter, known as the season of Lent, is the ideal time to explore this paradox.
Lent often brings a connotation of solemn sacrifice. People exercise self-discipline by choosing to “give up” something for Lent. This is typically something that brings pleasure, whether it be chocolate or social media. This long-standing tradition has great merit, yet at times we can lose sight of the meaning behind the tradition. Sacrifice at its best, is about what we gain far more than what we lose or give up.
We sacrifice the comfort of our couch so that we can build muscle and good health.
We sacrifice our sleep so that we can stay up laughing with friends just a little longer.
We sacrifice eating out at a restaurant so we can save up for that dream vacation.
In such cases, our sacrifice is built upon a trust that the thing we sacrifice for is worth it. It’s bigger and better than anything we could ever give up. In that way, Lent is no different. We sacrifice to fix our eyes on something far greater than we can imagine. We sacrifice to go deeper on our spiritual journey and gain a new level of intimacy with Christ.
Whether or not you and your family choose to give up something for Lent this year, let us encourage you to enter this season with intentionality. Have heartfelt conversations. Make memories. Show up for each other. And bask in God’s amazing love for you and your family.
If you’re looking for some guidance in making this a sacred season for your family, we at Youthfront would love to help. Our new Lent Guide, entitled “We Are the Beloved,” is now available as a free Lenten resource for families. With short weekly prompts, the guide offers encouraging reflections for parents and ideas for meaningful (and fun!) experiences for kids of all ages. The free Lent Guide is now available for download. You can learn more and find all of our parenting resources at youthfront.com/parenting.
About Natasha Nikkel: Natasha currently serving as the COO of Youthfront, wholeheartedly embraces the quest for the sacred amid life’s challenges. With a background in social psychology and a wealth of unique personal experiences, Natasha possesses a deep understanding of trauma and the transformative power of human connection. As a licensed foster parent, she and her husband adopted two children from the foster care system, ages 10 and 13 at the time. Beyond her role as a foster/adoptive parent, Natasha has served as a committed board member for multiple non-profit organizations in Kansas City. Guiding and mentoring start-up nonprofits holds a special place in her heart as she witnesses their journey from initial ideas-for-good to the tangible reality of becoming fully-fledged, formal organizations. She is especially passionate about organizations that work with youth from hard places.
