Lenten Reflection
13 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
According to Wikipedia, Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations.
Every year my attempt to slow down, manage my obligations, and spend more time in study to develop a closer relationship with God, seems to be in vain. I also struggle with what I might “give up” for Lent. Until, a few years ago, I stumbled upon the following piece that I share with you today.
What To Give Up
Give up complaining………….focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism……………become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgements…..think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry………………….trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement……..be full of hope.
Give up bitterness…………….turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred…………………return good for evil.
Give up negativism……………be positive.
Give up anger………………….be more patient.
Give up pettiness……………..become mature.
Give up gloom…………………enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy………………pray for trust.
Give up gossiping…………….control your tongue.
Give up on sin…………………turn to virtue.
Give up on giving up…………hang in there!
—Author Unknown
