"Why do we fast?" And how can we answer our children's questions without making things complicated?

Many mothers ask these questions: "How can I explain the meaning of fasting to my child without him feeling that it is just deprivation?" "Is it enough to tell him that we fast to feel what the poor feel?"

The value of fasting lies in it being a golden opportunity to build a child's character and develop their spiritual intelligence. Tell your child the following so that their awareness increases and they worship God with understanding.

1. "Our Big Secret": A lesson in honesty and self-regulation

When your child asks you, "Why can't I eat in my room where no one can see me?", seize the opportunity and tell him that fasting is "the great secret" that no one knows about except God.

Teach him that his fasting is proof of his trustworthiness; he monitors himself because he knows that God sees him wherever he is, and He loves him and rewards him for his fasting. This concept will build in the child self-control or a “living conscience” that accompanies him in your absence as well as in your presence, and makes him proud of being a trustworthy and responsible person.

2. “Strength training”.. Fasting is not torture but training in patience and endurance in order to please God and not just enduring hunger.

Explain to him that fasting is a "willpower gym". Tell him: "You are a champion because you are controlling your cravings for food, and this makes you very strong from the inside out."

Fasting teaches him that "his mind is what guides his body," and it is a lesson in self-discipline that he will need in all areas of his life in the future.

3. Beyond "Feeling for the poor" (Appreciating blessings)

The traditional answer, "to empathize with the poor," might not be convincing to a young child. It's better to say: "We fast to appreciate what we have," "We fast to learn patience and determination," "We fast to become strong," "We fast to please God."

When a child abstains from water for hours, he will taste the "sip of water" with genuine gratitude at breakfast. Fasting rediscovers the usual blessings, reminds us of their existence and to be constantly grateful for them, and transforms praise from a word on the tongue into a feeling that fills the heart, which motivates him to help the needy with love, knowledge, and a deep understanding of the value of fasting.

4. "The Ethics of the Fasting Person": Fasting of the Heart and Tongue

Explain to your child that fasting is a complete system; God, for whom we abstain from food, also loves for us to abstain from hurtful words and anger. Fasting is an opportunity to be the "best version of ourselves," so we fast from annoying behaviors just as we fast from food, so that our "secret" with God is connected to our "good manners" with people.

Dear mother, always remember that fasting is a new experience for your child. It needs your support, patience, lots of encouragement and perseverance. To strengthen his resolve and make it easy for him, make sure he knows its value and purpose.