My 6 year old granddaughter has been telling us that we aren't to eat meat during lent and not eat much at all on Ash Wednesday. She learned this in school. We are to give up something and also do something good. She said that she had given up candy and would be taking care of the earth. Her Dad said, "Was that what you were doing when I yelled at you not to touch the trash along side the road?" "Yes, I was taking care of the earth." Of course, I beamed with pride; she has gotten the message.
We are doing Lent 4.5 at our parish this Lent. The program is a series of bulletin inserts each week on a topic that challenges us to care for creation by the way we live, what we eat, drive, and consume. www.earthandspiritcenter.org/lent45/ There is also an in-depth program that may be offered and a blog. It's one of the best organized and clearly read series I have ever seen. There is also a non denominational series.
The message has gotten through to one six year old!
