The purpose of the three ancient practices of Lent- almsgiving, fasting and prayer – is to open ourselves more fully to the presence of God.

Almsgiving, for example, helps us grasp the deepest truth of all: there is a God who created all people and things.  Everything came from God and belongs to God.

Ask your child, while you answer the questions in your head:

To whom do the stars being?

Answer:  To God

To whom does the moon belong?

Answer:  To God

To whom do you belong?

Answer:  To God

To whom does your toy tiger belong?

(This is where it might get tricky.). Answer:  It’s mine.

What are the things that you claim as yours, forgetting that everything belongs to God?

We all have our stuff!!

It doesn’t get any easier as we get older.

That’s why almsgiving, which means giving away part of what appears to be “mine,” is one of the traditional Lenten practices.

Try this –

1.  Pour 1/2 cup of half-&-half or milk into one of your sandwich-sized baggies.   Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.  Get all of the air out and then seal the bag.  Place your filled bag into another sandwich-sized baggie and seal.

2.  Put your double-bag inside of a gallon-sized baggie and add your ice and 1/2 cup of rock salt.  Place this bag inside another gallon-sized bag (you will have 2 small bags and 1 large bag inside).

3.  Have your child put on some winter gloves and start shaking!

Shake the bag for about 15-20 minutes, passing it around the various members of the family!

Ready to be served!  This only makes a serving of ice cream.  If you want to double the recipe, you can (just use quart-sized baggies instead of sandwich-sized).  Don’t attempt to do any more than doubling, though, or it will be too heavy for the child to carry when you add ice and rock salt.

Be sure to share what you have with a neighbor!!