Lenten Jar

lent  

/lent/

Noun
The period of 40 weekdays that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence. 

During Lent in our home we try to not only give things up but since Jesus gave everything for us we make it a goal to give to others.  When the kids were all little I wanted a visual to encourage them to do good thing for others, especially each other, that is when the Lenten jar was born.

For every good deed done for someone else without being asked, they may put a bean in the empty jar.  On Holy Thursday before bedtime I will put the beans into the crock pot along with pasta, and veggies to make the soup we will eat on Good Friday.  If they do not do for others then our soup will be very meager.

They start up gung ho and the jar begins to fill very quickly but as the season goes on they begin to forget and I have to encourage them to do good things but that is a job that I don’t mind.

I took this picture of the morning of Ash Wednesday.  It has many more beans in it right now and so far I have seen my children volunteer to do one of their brothers or sisters chores, give up the last piece of food for someone else who wants it, give up their turn to go out with Momma and when we are working outside they have gotten everyone water without anyone asking and with a smile.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

9 Responses to Lenten Jar

  1. Lisa Burbank February 12, 2016 at 5:21 pm #

    Oh my goodness…what a beautiful tradition! I don't have children that I can pass this tradition onto but may I share this post on my Facebook page? I would love to inspire others with it. It inspires me. Thank you!

    • Farmish Momma February 13, 2016 at 7:27 pm #

      Lisa, thank you for your kind words. I would be flattered and grateful if you shared it.

  2. Colleen March 5, 2014 at 5:27 am #

    Thank you for this. I sent it along to my sister who has a 9yr old and this would be good for her.

    • farmishmomma March 7, 2014 at 12:42 am #

      Colleen, You are welcome. I see people are coming up with different things to put in the jars instead of beans 😉

  3. Lisarose March 4, 2014 at 1:56 pm #

    Hello, I just saw this on the Like Mother, Like Daughter pinterest post and wanted to know more. I love the idea of making the beans into your Good Friday meal. I wish I'd seen this when my kids were little but even if a bunch of teenagers might be harder to motivate, it will certainly be good for me! Thanks for sharing.

    • farmishmomma March 5, 2014 at 4:36 am #

      Lisarose, it is a good visual reminder and they know that according to their sacrifices, their soup will be filling or disapointing.

  4. Crunchy Momma February 17, 2013 at 6:23 pm #

    Uglemor, Blogger has been eating them for months!! I have been unable to figure it out : ( I need to hire someone to fix it.

  5. Uglemor February 17, 2013 at 2:13 pm #

    Dear Crunchy Catholic Momma. Why do your comments keep on disappearing? I was in here yesterday, read 3 different comments, and left one myself. Today there's only one – new – one. And this is not the first time … is Blogger eating them or what. I hope it's no a virus of some sorts.

  6. Bethany Trimble February 17, 2013 at 9:23 am #

    What a fabulous idea! I hope that you don't mind me using your creativity in my own household! Thank you for bringing inspiring ideas into our lives!

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