(I’ve been meaning to write this post since Ash Wednesday last week, but the time just got away from me).
In thinking about my Lenten sacrifice this year, I decided that rather than giving something up, I’m going to do something. As my mom put it, “adults don’t give things up, children do.” And since I feel like my diet and exercise are already on point, and I don’t have many other things I’m willing to forgo for 40 days, doing something positive that would impact someone else’s life seemed like a much better option.
So this year, I’m giving of myself – donating clothes and volunteering. Each week I’m going to give back in some way:
- Last week: I barely conceived of this idea.
- This week: Going through my closet and donating all of the clothes that have gotten too big. I already have 4 trash bags full, but I know there will be several more.
- 3/16: 3 hours volunteering at a county park lake cleanup
- 3/22: 6 hours volunteering with alumnae from my high school at Sacred Heart Community Service
- 3/26: 2 hours volunteering doing food sorting at the warehouse of Second Harvest Food Bank
- 3/29: 4 hours volunteering at Furry Friends dog adoption
- TBD: volunteering for a local Relay for Life chapter
- TBD: volunteering at a local small garden
- Donating a baby blanket that I crochet to the Linus Project
My goal is to do at least 20 hours of volunteer work during the season of Lent, and I think I’ll more than cover that with these things.
Do you do a Lenten sacrifice? If so, what’s yours for this year?
Bella on the Beach 
Love this idea. I was raised Catholic but I haven’t been a practicing catholic in a long time. But I’m very spiritual. Every year when my husband does a similar thing to lent (but for his religion) I try and get him to engage in some volunteering, donations, etc. I hasn’t worked yet. lol Good for you!
Thanks. I was raised Catholic, and I guess if you asked that’s what I’d still say I am, but I don’t attend church too often. Still, I try to live The Golden Rule.
I love the idea of doing something versus giving something up for Lent. I’ve taken that route the last two years and I think that spin on it helps me better spiritually overall.
I’ve done something similar for Lent, where I decided to “reach out” more. This entails reaching out to friends who may need a helping hand (child care, a late-night listening ear, etc.), contacting friends that I haven’t talked to in awhile, spending more time with family, reaching out to strangers, and reaching out online.
Sounds as if you’ve got yourself a busy Lenten season! I think you’ll feel so much better for what you did! 🙂
~Violet~
Violet, I love the idea of offering that kind of help to friends who need it! I’m sure your friends are eternally grateful to have such a caring friend.
This is awesome Bella. I love this whole idea of giving back during the season of Lent. What a great lesson to teach my son. In a way you are giving up something, your time.
[…] « What I’m doing for Lent […]
[…] Di and I are heading to a local lake county park to volunteer at a cleanup. This is part of my Lenten Sacrifice, and I’m looking forward to it. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here – 80 […]
[…] high school I attended had an Alumnae Day of Service at a local charity, which fit in well with my volunteering for Lent. One of my good friends attended, and I had a blast meeting a bunch of new friends. […]