I attend a women's bible study on Tuesday's night's. And last night they had a list out for things to give up for Lent. I thought it was a pretty good list. And I thought I would share it.
- Give up bitterness; turn to forgiveness
- Give up hatred; return good for evil
- Give up negativism; be positive
- Give up complaining; be grateful
- Give up pessimism; be an optimist
- Give up harsh judgements; think kindly thoughts
- Give up discouragement; be full of Hope
- Give up anger; be more patient
- Give up pettiness; be more easy going
- Give up gloom; enjoy the beauty around you
- Give up jealousy; pray for trust
- Give up gossiping; control your thoughts and words
- Give up sin; turn to virtue
This lent I have decided to read about the seven sorrows of Mary. I feel this is what God is leading me to focus on this lent season. It has been a difficult season for me so maybe this will help me to focus on the suffering Mary went through. I also have a CD called Praying the seven sorrows with the blessed Virgin Mary that I will also be praying. I picked this up at the Catholic Women's conference in San Antonio last fall. Amazing conference with over 2,000 Catholic women there. Can't wait for this years conference. Praying I learn more about Mary's suffering during lent and to learn to rejoice in my own sufferings.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
