Celebrating the first day of Lent today (as an evangelical Christian) by making sourdough soft pretzels with the kids; I put ashes from our fireplace on their foreheads, and mine, and we talked about coming from and returning to dust, our need for a Savior, and what fasting means.
“Does putting ashes on our foreheads save us? Does it make us forgiven?”
“No.”
“What is the only thing that does?”
“Believing in Jesus for salvation.”
So why participate in rituals and holidays like Ash Wednesday and Lent? I explained it to the kids like this: Justin and I would still be married if we never hugged or if we never ate meals together or never celebrated our anniversary, right? But our relationship is much closer, our love for each other deeper, and our connection stronger by regularly embracing, sharing food and conversation at mealtimes, and enjoying special memory of our commitment to each other on our anniversary. Liturgies that help us turn our thoughts and attention toward God also help turn our hearts to Him that we might walk more closely with Him.
Here’s the verse we’re memorizing this week: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:12-14
Jennifer Blacklock 
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