As the anticipation of Easter and spring break permeates our campus, it can be very easy to forget about the 40 days many of us spent sacrificing ourselves for God leading up to these events. For those of you who decided to give up something for Lent, it can be very exciting to think that in just ten days you’ll be able to indulge in something you haven’t touched in over a month.

While the end of Lent approaches, it’s important to remember how these Lenten promises, devoted to God, have taught us strength and self-control. As we commemorate these Lenten promises, it’s time to think about the fact that maybe we can live without or with less of whatever we gave up. It’s important to remember that these changes have the possibility of making our lives healthier, whether it be physically or mentally.

The word “sacrifice” can be scary, but sacrifices for God are something we should willingly make. Considering the immense sacrifice our Savior made for us on Good Friday 2,000 years ago, making small sacrifices like praying every night or taking time to go to Mass and Church services should be something we actively do.

So as Easter approaches, let’s not forget the 40 days of devotion and personal sacrifice that came before it. Though giving something up indefinitely may seem too extreme for some, anyone can benefit from the demands of Lent by simply reflecting on the lessons learned during Lent and applying them to everyday life. Religion department chair and religion teacher, Mrs. D’Alba reflects on recognizing the lasting effect of Lent: “Lent is supposed to be life changing, not something you’re only supposed to do for 40 days.”

Sacrifices can be simple, and in the end most of these sacrifices are actually beneficial to us. Through every willing sacrafice we earn righteous benefits. A Bible verse that can remind us of this is Philippians 2:17: “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”

Moving forward from Lent, it is also crucial to realize the many spiritual benefits our Lenten promises have. The act of forgoing or adding something to your life for Lent may seem simple but really it has great benefits in our lives. Religion teacher Mrs. Rosales explains that, “The practices we take on in Lent provide us with the virtues necessary to grow deeper in our spiritual life and faith in God.” Though spiritual blessings attained during Lent can be different for everyone, it’s easy to recognize that we all get something out of the shared experience of Lenten practices.

I’d personally like to encourage everyone to remember not only the sacrifice of our Lord but the sacrifices we all make leading up to the joy and excitement of Easter. With these sacrifices in mind, we must use the lessons learned in Lent to grow our faith life.