Lent ideas

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Cupcake143

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What are some things everyone is doing for lent this year? I need some ideas, because I have a few things I am going to give up but I feel like I should do more but at the same time I want to stay committed to a plan that I know I will stick by.
 
I saw ideas online and I initially wanted to go makeup free but then again, I would not be able to do it too (Plus, my painted face is my act of charity to the world. :D).

Maybe no gossiping. Personally I think I do this all of the time. No cursing as well.

Eating less was another one but I feel like I should probably start now lol! And i think it seems like a selfish reason.

Probably going to choose to try to pray every night without whining.
 
I am changing the way I eat and giving up most carbs so I can take better care of the health God gave me, I am also committing to do at least one act of random kindness every day of Lent. I hope to make it a permanent daily habit.
 
Don’t just give up a bad habit or an excessive use. Substitute a good habit for a bad habit. You’re more likely to keep doing it after Lent is over.
 
One year, I gave up watching non-religious TV, and instead watched religious documentaries/movies relating to the saints. I was pleasantly surprised by some of my choices (a wonderful biopic of JP II) and, er, less so by others. 😉 (that Therese movie…shudder :eek: ).

This year, I’m planning on giving up my weekly drive-through meal and setting aside the cash instead for a family I know who could really use it. I’m also going to read a couple of spiritual/theological books, and spend a little time in front of the Blessed Sacrament one evening each week. I’ll be doing a bit of fasting…nothing drastic, but there’s nothing quite like it for working on self-control and discipline. And, as I did last year, stepping off of social media, including CAF. :eek: I figure I should be out of withdrawal by Easter… 😃
 
Lea101 said:
I saw ideas online and I initially wanted to go makeup free but then again, I would not be able to do it too (Plus, my painted face is my act of charity to the world. :D).

Maybe no gossiping. Personally I think I do this all of the time. No cursing as well.

Eating less was another one but I feel like I should probably start now lol! And i think it seems like a selfish reason.

Probably going to choose to try to pray every night without whining.
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I was thinking of no gossiping/talking mean about others, but I can be a little scrupulous and knowing me I might think that anything I say about someone is gossiping so I decided not to do that. But, cursing is a good one.

Thank you! 🙂
 
I was thinking of maybe doing something nice for someone at least once a day… but I don’t know what kinds of things I could do each day besides buying someone something.
 
My son and I have been memorizing scripture every year during Lent for a few years.

Last year I let him choose (he was 12) and we ended up memorizing all of 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

The first year, the first verse we memorized was Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” It seemed like a good reminder of why we were taking on this particular challenge. 😃
 
I’ll be going on a Lenten Retreat the end of March. I also have all my daily Lenten readings & meditations ready.
 
At work, I often have downtime. I usually fill that downtime messing around on the internet (like right now). I’m considering setting aside the 3:00 hour to be internet free (non-work) and, instead, do some sort of meditation/prayer/reading.

Not certain if that’s all I will do, or if I will do it. But, that’s where I’m leaning right now.
 
I love chocolate so last year I gave up chocolate for Lent – then I made up my mind that the first thing I would do Easter morning was have a piece of chocolate – I might add that I’m 92 years old and the first thing I did on Easter morning was FORGET to eat the chocolate!!!
 
Cupcake143 said:
I was thinking of maybe doing something nice for someone at least once a day… but I don’t know what kinds of things I could do each day besides buying someone something.
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Doesn’t always have to involve money. While driving, let someone on a side street or an intersection get out ahead of you. At work, give someone an unexpected compliment. Send a “Thinking of you” card to someone you haven’t seen or talked to in a while. At home or work, volunteer to do a chore for someone, especially if they dislike doing it themselves. Spend a few minutes picking up trash - along a road, a sidewalk, or in a park. Bring something homemade and delicious to your office. Write a nice thank you note to your priest, or the parish secretary, or your child’s teacher. Buy someone’s coffee or lunch, or groceries.
 
I am committing to attend weekday Mass at least once a week and praying the stations of the cross. Also trying to do better with spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Givvin up sweets and alcohol.
 
UbiCaritas said:
One year, I gave up watching non-religious TV, and instead watched religious documentaries/movies relating to the saints. I was pleasantly surprised by some of my choices (a wonderful biopic of JP II) and, er, less so by others. 😉 (that Therese movie…shudder :eek: ).

This year, I’m planning on giving up my weekly drive-through meal and setting aside the cash instead for a family I know who could really use it. I’m also going to read a couple of spiritual/theological books, and spend a little time in front of the Blessed Sacrament one evening each week. I’ll be doing a bit of fasting…nothing drastic, but there’s nothing quite like it for working on self-control and discipline. And, as I did last year, stepping off of social media, including CAF. :eek: I figure I should be out of withdrawal by Easter… 😃
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I’m looking into doing fasting, praying the Divine Mercy chaplet everyday and almsgiving.
 
Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts here – getting some great ideas! 😃
 
Lea101 said:
I saw ideas online and I initially wanted to go makeup free but then again, I would not be able to do it too (Plus, my painted face is my act of charity to the world. :D).

Maybe no gossiping.
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Aren’t you supposed to not be doing that anyway? 🤷
 
Cone said:
Aren’t you supposed to not be doing that anyway? 🤷
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Of course! But lent is an excellent time to make an exerted effort to eradicate those sins which seem to come to us all too naturally.
 
I have young children who don’t fully understand the concept of Lent so its difficult to have a specific “give up” for the entire 40 days, without it seeming like a punishment. So instead, we have a give up jar, with a different random give up (no dessert, no iPad, etc) for every day of Lent. The older kids contribute to what goes into the give up jar, and encourage the younger ones, which is awesome!

To counteract the give ups, we also do positive things in the community. For instance, last year we had a day where we all went to a park and picked up trash. I took my children grocery shopping, but it was for our church’s food bank, and they really enjoyed picking out food for other kids! At Lent we make a special effort to go through toys and clothing, and donate the ones the kids aren’t using. And as long as its not upsetting or too graphic, I show my children YouTube videos of kids in third world countries, to increase their awareness and gratitude. We also make more of an effort to go to daily mass.

I realize these are more kid-centered activities, but my unmarried sister in college also really enjoys them and uses a lot of my kid’s ideas for herself haha. The best part of being creative like this is, it makes you excited for Lent! My kids are already asking when Lent starts haha. 😛
 
I’m giving up Facebook from March 1st until April 15th. Hardest part will be not being able to participate in opening day baseball game game thread topic starting April 3rd in my favorite team’s fan club Facebook group. GO ROYALS!

Other than that, I might try to add daily reciting of divine mercy chalet at 3 pm (started a daily rosary during lent like 6 years ago…still do one)
 
LundyLund said:
At work, I often have downtime. I usually fill that downtime messing around on the internet (like right now). I’m considering setting aside the 3:00 hour to be internet free (non-work) and, instead, do some sort of meditation/prayer/reading.

Not certain if that’s all I will do, or if I will do it. But, that’s where I’m leaning right now.
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If you are giving it up at the 3:00 hour, pray the Divine Mercy chaplet instead. Giving up a bad habit and replacing with a better one.
 
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