01 December 2011

Ember Days and fasting

Ever pregnant and/or nursing, I don't do a whole lot of fasting in this season of my life.  However, I don't want my children to grow up thinking fasting with prayer is strange--something either the Roman Catholics or Pentecostals do.  Moms (or dads), what are your experiences with and philosophies about giving your children a healthy view of fasting?

This question hit me as we approach Ember Days and because of a close relative's misplaced IHOP "piety."

5 comments:

  1. I have been asking this very same question. I really hope you find some answers and can pass them along!

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  2. In our house, Dad keeps a strict fast (the no-meat, 1.5-meal-a-day variety), and I work to adjust my meal planning around it (lentils! yay!). The children know that Dad is fasting and why. But the children and I don't really fast; we abstain: no treats, no snacks, no party-driven eating. I also try to make sure they understand why we don't fast like Dad, but that someday, when they're bigger, they might want to. We are a whole lot more focused during Lent than Advent, but there it is.

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  3. We do a no-meat, no sweets fast on Ember days, but we still do a normal amount of meals and snacks.

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  4. Ditto what Gauntlets said. Our oldest (almost 9) is confirmed and she keeps the fast before morning Divine Services year round.

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  5. Thanks, ladies. Gauntlets, the abstain and fast distinction helps. For a few years in our house Wednesdays and Fridays were meat-free, but we fell out of that habit, except during Lent. Rebekah, fasting before DS would be a great way to introduce fasting to a child. Our church confirms later, though. (But there are rumors that that may change as our pastors' oldest is reaching her 7th year...)

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