Lent begins on Wednesday 17 February. We've already given up a lot in this past year, so perhaps this might be the year to take something up instead. There are lots of resources online, including the 40 Day Bible Tour, CAFOD Lent calendar, and Tearfund's Lament through Lent. I will be returning to my usual Lenten practice of #40daysofgratitude, and encouraging the family to join by turning our gratitude into paper chains, and I am also please to introducing our 40 Days of Kindness...
Text on poster reads:
"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12)
Take up kindness this Lent
Here are forty ways you can be kind to yourself, others and the world
(Lent starts on Wednesday 17 February and ends on Saturday 3 April - Sundays don't count but perhaps you can use them as a chance to choose your own act of kindness)
KIND TO YOURSELF
make sure you drink enough water
compliment yourself
count your blessings
eat something you love
turn off all your screens for an hour
dress fancy just for the fun of it
remember you are "fearfully and wonderfully made"
give up something you don't need
do something to make yourself laugh
take a nap
do the thing you've been putting off
make some art
stop and make a cup of tea
breathe deeply
KIND TO OTHERS
call a friend to say hello
leave a gift for a stranger to find
tell someone why you love them
donate to a food bank
write a thank you note
set aside some donations for a charity shop
say sorry for something you've done wrong
make some biscuits for a neighbour
catch up with someone you haven't spoken to in a while
send someone flowers
pray a blessing on someone you disagree with
teach someone something new
do someone a favour
KIND TO THE WORLD
sign a petition to make a change
use less plastic
collect litter around your neighbourhood
appreciate nature
watch the news and commit to pray for a story
learn about another culture
buy fairtrade
turn down your heating and pull on a jumper
have a vegetarian day
share tips on creation care with a friend
turn an empty jar into something new
leave out food for the birds
plant some seeds